Sajad blames NC, PDP for ‘culture of impunity’

Tribune News Service

Srinagar March 20

People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone has expressed grief over the killing of school principal Rizwan Asad in police custody, describing it as unacceptable in a democratic setup.

He blamed the killing on lack of accountability which he said had been patronised by the two traditional parties – National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party -- to safeguard their own interests.

“It is imperative for the Governor’s administration to conduct a fair and transparent inquiry into the reasons that led to the unfortunate incident and punish those involved,” he said.

The PC leader said the culture of impunity and lack of accountability started by the two traditional political parties and their failure to hold erring police officers in the past accountable had led to the normalisation of excesses.

“The failure of the NC and PDP to hold culprits to account is partly responsible for the death of Rizwan Asad Pandit. This culture of immunity and impunity has to end for people to have any trust in the system. The judicial inquiry ordered incident must be time-bound,” he said.