Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has departed for a foreign visit to Egypt to participate in the Sharm El Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit (SCIS) without sending a summary to form a judicial commission to probe into the Imran Khan attack case.
This two-day summit, which begins on Monday, is a part of the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27). PM Shehbaz Sharif is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the margins of the summit.
On Saturday, PM Sharif announced to request the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the Imran Khan attack case.
A day after the attack on him, Khan alleged that three people — Prime Minister Shehbaz, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Major General Faisal Naseer — were behind the botched assassination attempt on his life. “But first, the accused should be removed from their positions. The judicial commission should investigate the murder of Arshad Sharif. The judicial commission should also investigate the cipher,” he said.
The premier had urged Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial to form a full court commission to investigate the allegations levelled by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan against the prime minister, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and the top army officer regarding alleged involvement in the Wazirabad attack.
Imran Khan conditionally agreed on postponing long march, Nawaz Sharif’s return
PM Shahbaz said while people from all walks of life denounced the incident, Khan shouldn’t have “stooped to such a level, where since last two days he is levelling false and cheap allegations against the military and the coalition government.”
Addressing a press conference — which was postponed on Thursday because of the attack on PTI’s convoy — PM Shahbaz said: “The incident was unfortunate and we pray for the speedy recovery of all people who sustained injuries, including Khan.”
“The attack is condemnable, however, when the nation is being pushed towards devastation by false narratives it is my responsibility that I play a positive role to protect the people,” he said, urging the PTI chief to present evidence to support his allegations.
The premier maintained that if Khan successfully shows evidence to the people that he was behind the attack, then “I don’t have a right to continue to hold the Prime Minister’s Office.”
Former prime minister Imran Khan said he welcomed the government’s offer to launch a judicial commission to investigate the attack in which he was shot in the leg on Thursday.
Khan made the remarks in a video broadcast live on social media from a hospital in the eastern city of Lahore, where he was receiving treatment after being shot during a protest march three days earlier in what he and supporters called an assassination attempt. The government has said it will investigate the shooting.
However, PM Shehbaz Sharif departed for a two-day visit to Egypt without sending a summary to form a judicial commission despite making an announcement to hold a thorough inquiry into the assassination attempt on Imran Khan.