However, the opposition members strongly criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and termed the incident its failure and demanded to bring facts before the nation. Opposition will not allow the government to heave a sigh of relief over the Sahiwal shootout unless real facts behind the incident are brought before the public, said Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif. Although the opposition will not stage sit-in against the PTI government, we will follow the investigations into this incident. He urged the Speaker National Assembly to constitute a parliamentary committee to follow the recommendations of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to probe the Sahiwal incident. He said that the government should present recommendations in the House for discussion.
"The whole nation is depressed over the tragic incident. Conflicting statements made by Punjab government over the incident added fuel to the fire. Punjab government should tell why it changed its stance on the incident for as many as eight times in 24 hours," he asked. Shahbaz said the opposition don't want politics over the sad incident unlike Prime Minister Imran Khan, but the latter would have to tell the nation of the government's position. He said no appointments are made in Punjab without the approval of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He lamented that CTD personnel brutally killed the father, mother, sister and driver before the innocent children. He said it was non-professional approach of the CTD personnel.
Former Defence Minister Khawaja Asif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that Sahiwal incident showed those assigned to ending terrorism in the country have themselves become terrorists. "A parliamentary committee, instead of a JIT, should be made on the Sahiwal incident," he suggested, adding that empowered parliamentary committee should probe the incident. He said that the writ of the government has collapsed. Kh Asif said that similar [terrorism] cases should be registered against them [the CTD personnel involved] and they should be treated like terrorists. He cited he had said this before as well. If Rao Anwar had been held accountable for the blood he shed, perhaps today police officers would be fearful [of the consequences of their actions].
Responding to the criticism of opposition members, Minister of Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari reminded them of the Model Town tragedy which had claimed 14 lives during the PML-N's tenure in Punjab. She said opposition had every right to criticise the government's performance on the matter, but they must refrain from issuing false statements. She said that PTI government would not defend this tragic incident and would set example by giving punishment to the CTD officials involved in this incident.
"The Prime Minister never condoned the actions of the CTD [in this case], as has been alleged," she asserted. Mazari also recalled that the PML-N had been in power when Rao Anwar's involvement in Naqeebullah Mehsud's extrajudicial murder had surfaced. "Asif was the defence minister, why did he not take action?" she asked. "Why didn't those responsible for the Model Town tragedy also get punished? Let's avoid politicking on the blood of innocent civilians," she exhorted. Holding the PML-N responsible for the rogue behaviour of the provincial police, she said the incumbent government had inherited the systems created by previous regimes.
"There is a dire need to restructure police in Sindh and Punjab. Till reforms are not implemented, the issue will not be resolved," she said. Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi said there is no justification of the tragic incident. He said the government is responsible and they are answerable before the nation. However, he noted that under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the provincial government is responsible for law and order. He said that CTD officials are behind the bar and JIT would present its report today (Tuesday).
"We will make example. We should ban those political parties which have weapons," he said. Endorsing the proposal of opposition members, he said that a parliamentary committee should be formed to look into this matter and other such incidents. The minister said that a parliamentary committee has been constituted which would play role of watchdog on the investigations of JIT on the killing of SP Tahir Dawar.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf of PPP said killing of an innocent family by the law enforcing agencies is an inhuman act. He demanded to form a parliamentary committee on Sahiwal incident. Ashraf said that the Punjab government, instead of bringing the killers to justice, is defending them. He urged PTI to desist from calling its regime the State of Medina. Should a bouquet be presented to those children whose parents are killed in broad daylight," he asked.
Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser said he was seated there as the chair as a citizen. He said they would take this issue to its logical end." Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed, Abdul Shakoor, Pervez Malik and others also spoke on the tragedy.
