GUJRAT, Aug 21: Opposition leader Qasim Zia has said the Punjab government had failed in controlling the law and order situation in the province.

He was talking to newsmen at the residence of provincial vice-president of PML-N and former MPA Malik Hanif Awan in Ghura Jattan, Sarai Alamgir, some 80 kilometres from here, after attending the death anniversary of Mr Awan’s elder brother Malik Sadiq on Thursday.

Mr Zia, who is the Punjab president of the PPP, said the provincial government even failed to protect its officials, pointing towards the Sialkot jail incident.

He claimed that unidentified people had been resorting to firing outside the residences of some ministers but police took no action against them.

He said the chief minister had banned transfers in the province but a recent major reshuffle in his (CM) absence proved that he and his cabinet were powerless while some hidden hands were running the affairs of the province.

Mr Zia said the joint opposition would not succumb to the state pressure on the issue of Legal Framework Order (LFO) and would not negotiate this issue with Prime Minister Jamali.

According to him, the president should himself invite the opposition for talks on the LFO issue.

He termed the conviction of former premier Benazir Bhutto by a Swiss court a political blackmail.

Holland PML-N president Malik Jamil Awan was also present on the occasion.

ROBBERY: Robbers took away two motorcycles and cash in separate incidents on Thursday.