By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday wrote a letter to the country’s Chief Justice, requesting him to set up a full-bench judicial commission to probe the assassination attempt on his predecessor Imran Khan.
The former prime minister and chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Khan, suffered multiple bullet injuries in his legs when a gun-wielding man opened fire on the convoy last week near Gujranwala, wounding at least seven people and killing a party supporter.
A man suspected of firing shots at the rally was detained and later a leaked video showing the purported shooter confessing to an attempt on the life of Khan surfaced.
But Khan named three individuals — PM Sharif, Interior minister Rana Sanaullah and an army official Major-General Faisal Nasser — for the assassination plot and demanded their resignations.
PM Sharif, in his letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, requested him to form a judicial commission comprising the top court’s all available judges.
Sharif suggests the commission focus five key questions including; which law enforcement agencies were responsible to provide security to Khan’s convoy, whether security protocols and other standard operating procedures were in place, and whether these protocols were followed.
He also suggests, the commission inquire about the compliance of law enforcement agencies and administrative authorities with the prescribed investigation, evidence collection, and handling procedures following the incident, and also ask about lapses and who should be responsible for them.
The letter also requests the CJP to probe if the shooting was a result of a criminal conspiracy hatched to assassinate Khan or an act by a lone shooter, as well as find actors responsible for the incident.
The premier, in his letter, also mentioned the delay in registering an FIR regarding the incident, adding that the law enforcement agencies and investigating authorities functioning under the PTI-backed Punjab government have failed to adhere to the law regarding the investigation of the attack including carelessness in securing the crime scene and the container.
The prime minister wrote that Khan’s medical report is yet to be received by authorities for forensic analysis. It alleged that the Punjab government’s mishandling of the probing process following the incident will likely result in compromised evidence.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
