Foreign hand can be behind Sabeen’s murder: Sethi

LAHORE: The assassination of Sabeen Mahmood - a pro-people straight forward woman whose NGO provided opportunity to everyone to talk about his or her rights - is shocking as no one knew she was receiving threats, said Najam Sethi on Saturday, adding that the murder had raised several questions.
Expressing his views in Geo News programme ‘Aapas ki Baat, Sethi said Sabeen always tried to promote the minority and new talent, adding that her stance on Lal Masjid was very clear. Two years back, she also spoke openly in favour of Valentine’s Day, he added.
According to Sethi, the latest issue was a seminar on the Balochistan issue, which could not be held at LUMS, Lahore, but was organised by another NGO in Islamabad. Sabeen decided to hold the event in Karachi after being pressed in Lahore. Some people had reservations about the programme but the establishment was not involved in it as it realised the situation after the LUMS episode.
Sabeen’s murder is planned and targeted. Some people, who cite the example of two journalists, think that the agencies are involved in the incident. The other viewpoint points finger to the MQM because the agency is unhappy with it and the assassination means the agency will face all the charges. The third possible actors are the religious elements who had levelled allegations in the past as well. It was a good opportunity for them as the LUMS episode was a very hot topic in social media, thus providing a good opportunity to them. Also, foreign hand’s involvement cannot be ruled out, as India isn’t happy due to the Chinese investment and also making noise over the issue. There are doubts about the security of Chinese workers and the government has assigned the task to a 10,000-strong force. There is a possibility that the murder may be carried out by Indian agency or the Taliban.
Sethi said the agencies should resolve the mystery and expose the culprits.
About the cantonment board polls, he said the PML-N enjoyed a handsome lead, including in Lahore. The PTI’s had been constantly claiming that the last general elections were rigged, but the MQM’s victory in NA-246 and of the PML-N in Punjab proved that the charges were baseless.
According to Sethi, the PTI has committed many blunders and there are differences in the party ranks as well. The courts verdicts that the cantonment elections should be held on party basis were very good and, as a result, the political parties are forced to think about their performance. People have understood the reality of the PTI’s rigging cant.
He said the PPP was limited to Sindh and the JI a district party, while same was the case with the ANP and the MQM, adding that there were only two national parties, PML-N and PTI. Unfortunately, the PPP had become a regional party and it would have to pay attention to Punjab, otherwise, it would never recover, he said, adding that Imran should understand the game would come to an end, if he continued to follow the same line.
According to Sethi, Imran is seemingly retracting from his stance and avoiding the Judicial Commission despite being summoned. They haven’t become a party and still consider the PTI a movement.