ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Shibli Faraz has said the opposition parties have tried to spark conflict among the institutions by attempting to create uncertainty and unrest in the country.
While addressing a press conference today the minister criticized the opposition for shifting the war against their corruption towards the institutions, adding that the nation would hold the alliance accountable for their stance.
“The Opposition is running a ‘save our corruption campaign”, he said, adding that the government will bring the law into action against the country’s looters.
The federal minister said, “No one is ready to buy the narrative of the opposition parties,” adding that the protest campaign by the opposition parties will be a major flop.
Speaking about the opposition’s stance over incidents surrounding the arrest of PML-N leader retired Capt Mohammad Safdar in Karachi, Faraz said Pakistan was being “ridiculed globally” and Indian TV channels were showing images of opposition leaders.
There was no threat to the government from people wanted by NAB in corruption cases, he said. “The opposition leaders have nothing to do and their public gatherings will further expose them,” he added.
The federal minister said that the PML-N was only misleading the masses and pursuing a narrative that had nothing to do with reality. “They have done nothing for the country, except pursuing anti-people policies,” he added.
He also condemned the “drama staged” at Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s mausoleum by Safdar, adding that instead of denouncing it, the PPP had made it a political incident.
The manner in which the Sindh government reacted to Safdar’s arrest and the move later by PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to reportedly convince top Sindh Police officers to defer their leaves over the episode “shows that the Sindh government apparently played quite a sinister role” in the incident, he added.
Responding to a question, he cast doubts on PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s claim that police had broken their room’s door at their hotel in order to arrest Safdar.
“In the video that I saw it appeared that Safdar was standing in his house and the way he sat in the police van did not show that any force had been used,” the minister said.
The minister also criticized Bilawal and Maryam over their statements following Safdar’s arrest, saying they had “inherited” their political position.
“Maryam thinks of herself as Benazir Bhutto. Benazir was a highly learned woman of class,” he said. “Only clothes, shoes and make-up will not cut it; if you talk about the people you will have to live like them.”
Faraz said PM Imran will not be deterred by the opposition’s movement.” Our primary target is to rid Pakistan of these family parties,” he added. He also said the PML-N had deliberately ruined the country’s economy to create hurdles in the way of the government.
