MANSEHRA, Feb 24: Pakistan Muslim League-N MNA-elect Salahuddin Tirmizi on Sunday said an inquiry would be held into the Lal Masjid incident to fix responsibility for the killing of hundreds of innocent students and clerics.

“We will conduct an inquiry into the Lal Masjid carnage because the nation wants to know its causes and the hands behind this tragedy,” he told party workers and supporters who had gathered to congratulate him on his success in the election.

Former Azad Kashmir prime minister Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, MLA Majid Waheed Khan and MPA-elect Mufti Kefayatullah were also present.Mr Tirmizi was declared the winner of the NA-20 constituency after rechecking of 4,106 rejected votes and counting of postal ballots on Saturday. Earlier, Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf of the PML-Q had been declared the winner.

Mr Tirmizi said the people had given mandate to the PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party to repeal Article 58(2) B and restore the 1973 Constitution.

“I have spoken to Nawaz Sharif to repeal Article 58(2) B in the inaugural session of the National Assembly and to hold an inquiry into the Lal Masjid tragedy, and he agreed to it,” he said.

The former Anti-Narcotics Force director-general said it was a proper time that the new government minimised the US influence in the country. Unless Pakistan gets rid of the US influence, it will suffer more at the hands of the so-called militancy.

He said those who had plundered relief goods meant for the 2005 earthquake survivors worth billions of rupees would be taken to task. “Thousands of survivors are still deprived of basic amenities and living in makeshift houses, facing hardships.”