Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday hinted to set up a judicial commission to probe the spurious drugs case, which claimed lives of around 104 innocent people in Punjab.

“I will discuss the matter with the top leadership and suggest to set up a judicial commission to bring the real culprits to task.  I will recommend to include a representative of media as member in the commission,” he said.

Rehman Malik was talking to media after addressing a report launching ceremony. The report titled “Examining the Dimensions, Scale and Dynamics of the Illegal Economy: A study of Pakistan in the Region” was jointly compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

He said that clear directives have been given to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to arrest whosoever found involved in the fake drugs case whether it is Punjab Secretary Health or Medical Superintendent of Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).

He criticized the Punjab Government that it could not check the substandard medicines even it has around 500 drugs inspectors.

Commenting on a statement of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif regarding provision of security to US citizen Mansoor Ijaz in Punjab as per his (Mansoor) demand, the interior minister said that it is tantamount to a contempt of court as there is a clear order to provide security to the US citizen.
The minister said that the chief minister has attempted to divert the public attention from the fake drugs case by issuing this statement.
He was of the view that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is also holding the portfolio of Health Minister, should at least have resigned from the minister’s slot after the death of 104 innocent people. There are fears that death toll could increase,he added.