The letter penned down by Secretary Punjab Assembly (PA) Muhammad Khan Bhatti to the provincial chief secretary (CS) and inspector general of police (IGP), in which he had declared the police action inside and outside of the provincial assembly on April 16 (the day on which the chief minister was elected) ‘illegal’, has surfaced, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

In the letter, he had sought from the IGP and the CS names of officials of the police and the administration who were on duty on that day so that action could be taken against them.  

Bhatti had also sought from these officials explanation as to why FIRs had been registered against the members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs) who had beaten up Deputy Speaker Daust Muhammad Mazari.

However, Mazari has now said that Bhatti had no legal authority to seek explanation from the officials as he had been suspended on the very day election for the Punjab CM was held and an inquiry had also been launched against him. 

He has also said that assembly proceedings on April 16 were conducted as per the Lahore High Court (LHC) order of the previous day (April 15, 2022). 

The deputy speaker has said that it was he, who had written to the Punjab IGP as well as to the CS for the deployment of police contingents since he feared physical torture and even attempt on his life by the government MPAs. 

Reporter: Ali Sahi