LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has thanked Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari following his press conference on Captain (R) Safdar’s arrest.
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asked army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to probe the incident involving retired Captain Safdar’s arrest in Karachi.
The PPP chairman made the demand during a news conference on Tuesday, as senior Sindh police officers requested to go on paid leaves, citing the demoralization of the high command over Safdar’s arrest.
In a series of Tweets, the PML-N Vice President said, “It’s heartening to see civilians breaking shackles of fear, standing up for supremacy of constitution & reclaiming their long lost rights.”
“The conspiracy & conspirators stand badly exposed. Thank you @BBhuttoZardari for your support & clear stance. Pakistan has changed,” she added.
It’s heartening to see civilians breaking shackles of fear, standing up for supremacy of constitution & reclaiming their long lost rights. The conspiracy & conspirators stand badly exposed. Thank you @BBhuttoZardari for your support & clear stance. Pakistan has changed ????????
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 20, 2020
“It’s heartening to see civilians breaking shackles of fear, standing up for supremacy of Constitution and reclaiming their long lost rights,” Maryam said, adding that the “conspiracy and conspirators stand badly exposed”.
I salute the Sindh Police!
“If you want to raise the prestige and greatness of Pakistan, you must not fall victim to any pressure,but do your duty as servants to the people and the State,fearlessly and honestly”
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s speech to Civil Servants (1948)— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 20, 2020
Maryam saluted the Sindh Police and quoting Quaid-e-Azam wrote: “If you want to raise the prestige and greatness of Pakistan, you must not fall victim to any pressure, but do your duty as servants to the people and the State, fearlessly and honestly.”
Maryam’s comments come after several back-to-back related developments including multiple high ranking officers of Sindh Police reportedly requesting to go on leave.
In a shock move following the recent arrest of PML-N leader retired Captain Mohammad Safdar, at least two additional inspectors general, seven deputy inspectors general and six senior superintendents of Sindh Police on Tuesday applied for leaves in order to “come out of… shock” caused by the “recent episode of registration of FIR against Capt (R) Safdar.”
Those who submitted leave applications include Special Branch AIG Imran Yaqoob, Forensic Science Division AIG Dr Samiulah Soomro Counter Terrorism Department DIG Omer Shahid Hamid, Headquarters DIG Saqib Ismail Memon, Hyderabad DIG Naeem Ahmed Shaikh, East Zone (Karachi) DIG Capt (r) Asim Khan.
South Zone (Karachi) DIG Javed Akbar Riaz, Larkana DIG Nasir Aftab, Special Branch DIG Qamar-uz-Zaman and SSP Intelligence Tauqeer Muhammad Naeem, Sukkur SSP Irfan Ali Samo, Anti-Violent Crime Cell SSP Abdullah Ahmad, Badin SSP Shabir Ahmed Sethar, SSP Korangi Capt (r) Faisal Abdullah Chachar and East Zone (Karachi) SSP Sajid Amir Sudozai applied for leaves.
On October 18 — the day of the rally hosted by PPP in Karachi — Safdar had visited the Quaid’s mausoleum along with party workers and Maryam, where he jumped inside the perimeter of the founder’s resting place and raised slogans, a move that had drawn widespread criticism.
The next day, he was arrested by police from his hotel room on charges of violating the sanctity of Jinnah’s mausoleum and hurling murder threats at some individuals. Safdar was later released on bail.
