An independent inquiry commission will be constituted to investigate the April 9 violence which left 14 dead, including seven lawyers who were burnt to death, Senior Minister Sindh Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq announced Wednesday during a visit to the Malir Bar Association (MBA). Advisor to the Sindh Chief Minister, Rashid Rabbani, accompanied him.

Haq condemned the incident, and said that all those involved in the massacre had been exposed and would be taken to task according to the law. Many inquiry tribunals had been constituted in the past, he said, adding however, that their reports had not been made public, not had the culprits been punished.

He further said that the government will compensate all the April 9 victims, and will pay for the MBA building, which was damaged by some miscreants the same day, to be repaired and renovated.

Those who think that the lawyers’ community is weak are “living in fools’ paradise,” Haq said, adding that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government believed in the supremacy of the constitution, the law and the judiciary.

He expressed concern over the April 9 incident, and assured lawyers that damages would be compensated and stern action would be taken against “terrorists involved in the heinous acts of May 12 and April 9” after the process of administrative changes is complete.

Regarding reconciliation with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), he said that while the PPP was serious in negotiations with the party, the MQM could however, play a positive role by sitting on the opposition benches.

Administrative changes were made in the police department after April 9, Haq said, amd “corrupt officials in the department” would be held accountable.