Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has set a deadline of 72 hours for the arrest of individuals involved in the recent violent protests following the arrest of PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) chief Imran Khan. During a visit to the affected areas, Sharif blamed Imran Khan and his followers for instigating violence and called for the culprits to be tried in anti-terrorism courts.
In response to the unrest, the caretaker Punjab government established a joint investigation team (JIT) to look into the torching of Jinnah House, the official residence of the corps commander. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during his visit to the Punjab Safe Cities Authority and Jinnah House, expressed his determination to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Sharif accused Imran Khan and his armed followers of acting as enemies of Pakistan, emphasizing that the nation was grieving over the violent incidents. He vowed to show no mercy towards those who showed enmity towards the country and announced that all resources would be utilized to apprehend the arsonists. The prime minister also instructed the law minister to increase the number of anti-terrorism courts to expedite the trials of those involved in vandalism.
During his visit to Jinnah House, Shehbaz Sharif held Imran Khan responsible for the torching of the residence, labeling it a barbaric act. He alleged that Imran Khan had planned and instigated the attack and criticized the PTI leader for disregarding the historical significance of the building and the fact that an army officer and his family resided there.
In addition to his on-site visits, the prime minister visited the Combined Military Hospital and Services Hospital in Lahore to meet with injured police officers. He condemned Imran Khan’s statement accusing the army chief of orchestrating his arrest, referring to it as a reflection of a diseased and obsessive mindset.
The Punjab government formed a JIT to investigate the attack on Jinnah House and the vandalism of military and civil installations in the province. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Naqvi to assess the law and order situation. However, no investigation has been initiated into how the protesters managed to breach the fortified Lahore Cantonment to reach the corps commander’s residence.
The formation of the JIT and the prime minister’s strong stance against violence aims to restore law and order and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.