Share this story!            

Maqbool blames jailers for Yousaf Ali murder

Staff Report

LAHORE: Governor Khalid Maqbool blamed prison authorities at Kot Lakhpat Jail for the murder of inmate Sheikh Yousaf Ali on Tuesday afternoon.
Ali was shot dead by a fellow inmate Tariq Mota who is also a member of an outlawed politico-religious outfit. Mota fired six rounds, four of which struck the victim. Ali was found guilty under the Blasphemy Law and sentenced to death two years ago.

Mr Maqbool said there was great national and international pressure for the transparent and judicious inquiry into this murder. He announced an independent committee comprising senior police officials would lead the inquiry. The governor said that it was a matter of grave concern how an inmate managed to get hold of an automatic assault weapon.

Earlier, the governor spent the day distributing cheques to the poor. Mr Maqbool said Zakat and Ushr funds to the tune of Rs 1.06 billion had been disbursed to 61,500 under the Mustakil Bahali programme. An additional Rs 2.84 billion will be available for disbursement in the next fiscal year to assist some 120,000 deserving people, he said.

He said 72,000 acres of land had been disbursed to landless farmers while 100,000 acres would be available for distribution in the next fiscal. This will include 6,000 acres of land in Cholistan. Mr Maqbool also promised more education options for the poor and said scholarship programmes, worth Rs 80 million, would be set up to assist the low-income families.

The former Lt-General appreciated the efforts of the army in helping disburse the funds. The army alone, Mr Maqbool said, knew how best to restore civil society. He accused former governments of embezzling Zakat and Ushr funds and vowed to continue serving the poor and the needy by launching more schemes for their benefit.

Home | National

Share this story!