Govt would expose mastermind of Taseer’s assassination: Rehman Malik
LAHORE, Jan 5 (APP): Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the government would leave no stone unturned to probe the assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and expose the master-mind of the plot. Talking to media after condoling with Salman Taseer’s family at his residence here on Wednesday, he said that a thorough investigation has been initiated to expose the real factors behind the assassination.
Malik said, “The killer Malik Mumtaz Qadri’s previous job record and the contact numbers saved in mobile phone are being examined, and a number of his companions and associates have also been arrested.”
To a question, he said that he would not give any statement, which may affect the investigation process, adding that top investigators and senior officers are probing the inhuman act.
Rehman Malik said that a joint investigation team, comprising personnel of the ISI, IB, FIA and Punjab Police, has been tasked to unearth the real factors behind Taseer’s murder, while, he (Malik) had also directed the Islamabad Police to coordinate with the probing team.
He said the joint investigation team is also examining the factors which led the killer to such a barbaric act.
It is still a myth that such an incident occurred he said despite the fact that Federal Minister Khurshid and he himself had made a clear statement that no amendment would be made in Blasphemy Act, he said.
To a question, he said, the investigation was being conducted in a transparent manner. However, the government would order a judicial inquiry, if the bereaved family won’t be satisfied with the findings of the joint investigation team.
Malik urged the ulema belonging to different schools of thought to discourage the trend of religious hatred. Anti-state elements don’t want Pakistan to be a peaceful country, therefore, they resort to creating chaos in the society through such deceptive tactics, he added.
The Interior Minister said that government would make Psychiatry Test of all candidates mandatory in the recruitment process of security personnel to check their mental health and leanings.
To another question, the Interior Minister said that investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination had been completed.
However, he added that the matter is still in the court and they could not public its findings without permission of the honourable court.