“The kidnapping of Taseer’s son is a breakdown of law and order. Nothing can be a bigger failure than this one on the part of the Punjab government,” said Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khosa on Friday. – File Photo

“They had killed Salman Taseer and now they have abducted his son. I want to tell them not to further test our patience as it is not acceptable to us,” Mr Khosa said at a press conference at the Governor’s House.

“Yes, there appears to be a direct involvement of elements in the Punjab government in the incident as Shahbaz Taseer has been abducted in broad daylight from a busy road and if the Punjab government is really sincere in recovering him it can do it within hours,” he said.

But in the same breath he added that if there was no involvement of the government, it nevertheless “exposes its inefficiency”.

“The kidnapping of Taseer’s son is a breakdown of law and order. Nothing can be a bigger failure than this one on the part of the Punjab government.”

The governor also linked the kidnapping of Taseer junior to the Senate election in March. “They want to do something before the March Senate election and Shahbaz Taseer’s abduction seems to be a link in the chain. It may also be a conspiracy to derail democracy.”

Mr Khosa also wondered why the Punjab government did not take seriously an intelligence report about the possible abduction of the son(s) of influential personalities. The Taseer family had been receiving threats, but the Punjab government did not take adequate security measures, betraying its `callousness’, he added.

“It is a shame that after the murder of Salman Taseer the Punjab government failed to provide proper security to his family members despite being fully aware of the threat to their lives.”

In reply to a question, he said he did not want to give a deadline to the Punjab government for Salman Shahbaz’s recovery as “our experience of deadline is not good”.

Mr Khosa, asked about the likelihood of governor’s rule in Punjab, said there was a provision for it in the Constitution, but stressed that all matters should be resolved in a democratic way.

The governor also chided the Sharif brothers for not visiting the family after Salman Taseer’s death. “Shahbaz Sharif did not spare time to come to the governor’s house or Amna Taseer’s residence to condole the death of Taseer, betraying his real mindset,” he said.

The governor hinted that the People’s Party could review its relationship with the PML-N in the wake of the abduction “There is a limit to everything. I have spoken to the party leadership about reviewing the reconciliation policy as they (the Sharifs) are not reciprocating it and we should not tolerate their excesses anymore,” he said.

Mr Khosa recalled his visit to Nawaz Sharif’s residence in Raiwind, regretting that Mr Sharif had not reciprocated “my
gesture”.

The governor also accused the PML-N leadership of hobnobbing with outlawed religious organisations, which he believed a catalyst to existing deteriorating situation of law and order in the province.

He also called Shahbaz Sharif a “civil dictator”. “There has been a civilian dictatorship in Punjab. There has been no say of his cabinet members in any matter. I ask them (Sharifs) to change their mindset and try to grow up,” he said.

The governor advised the chief minister to “put your house in order first instead of visiting Karachi for point scoring”.