LAHORE: Terming the Rawalpindi incident as an administrative failure, negligence and an act of terrorism, the Punjab government announced Thursday to punish those responsible according to the law.

“In the wake of a report of fact finding committee, all officers responsible for the incident will be brought to justice besides ensuring prompt Rs24 million disbursement of financial assistance to the families of the victims,” Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said in the Punjab Assembly.

Answering an adjournment motion by the opposition benches, he said all 35 persons booked under terrorism act, five were police officers hailing from Islamabad and Punjab police.

After the incident, he said, seven Imambargahs were attacked and another 47 persons were taken into custody in that regard. He said all evidences were being forwarded to the court concerned so that legal action could be taken against the responsible police officers.

‘PTI’s flop drone drama’

Citing continued US drone strikes in Pakistani tribal areas bordering Afghanistan despite sit-ins staged by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) halting Nato supplies going through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said the party was staging a “flop drone drama” to divert attention from core issues confronting the provincial government.

Speaking to media representatives outside the Punjab Assembly building, the law minister said, “holding protest at Hayatabad Toll Plaza and snatching purses from drivers could not help stop drone attacks.”

He said Nato was not one country's institution rather it represented a number of countries, adding that relations with America could not be spoiled on a ‘non-issue’.

Rana Sana urged the PTI leadership not to toe “Jewish agenda” to destabilise the country at a time when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was endeavouring to develop a consensus within Pakistan on drone attacks.

Answering a question, he said date of local government polls was fixed after consensus between the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Supreme Court, “so there is no chance of further delay in this regard.”

The minister told a questioner that Punjab University students, involved in fray, torching vehicles and torturing teachers and staffers, could not be called students, “but they are miscreants in real sense.”

He reiterated government's resolve to give harsh punishment to accused students belonging to Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT).