ISLAMABAD: The ruling party today (Monday) has strongly criticized the opposition’s All Parties Conference (APC), in which the forum announced the launching of a three-phased anti-government movement.
Earlier on Sunday, the opposition announced a new alliance named the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PMD) under which they said they would unite to oust the ‘selected’ government.
Addressing a press conference along with Information Minister, Planning Minister and Science and Technology Minister, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi asked the opposition not to drag national institutions into politics. “It’s not good for the country, it is not in Pakistan’s interest” he added.
The statement came after PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif alleged that there was a state above the state in the country. Nawaz declared that the opposition’s struggle was not against Prime Minister Imran Khan but those who brought him into power.
“The new enthusiasm, seen in the opposition, is because they are adamant on being given an NRO-like concession or an amendment in the NAB laws,” the foreign minister added.
He further said that the opposition had also come to the conclusion that the cases against them are near their logical conclusion, hence this was a desperate move.
Qureshi described the APC meeting as a collection of contradictions, saying that he felt that the opposition was feeling helpless. “The APC is being celebrated in our neighbouring country India because every institution with whom Nawaz was annoyed with was sullied during the APC,” he claimed.
‘Shibli Faraz’
Referring to Nawaz’s comments about the election process, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said that Nawaz had raised suspicions in this regard because his party was unable to garner votes in the 2018 elections. “Nawaz is not used to a free and fair election,” he added.
Shibli Faraz said that the elections in which he was unable to form the government, he is raising these questions. “When things are according to their plan, they are okay, but when the opposite happens they are not,” he added.
“Don’t make the election and democracy controversial, this country has done you a lot of favours,” he asked the opposition. Faraz further pointed out that Nawaz in his address looked hale and hearty even though he claimed to be ill.
‘Asad Umar’
Addressing the press conference, Planning Minister Asad Umar said that Prime Minister Imran had stated that when accountability moves forward the opposition will all get together. “Yesterday’s MPC was a manifestation of the premier’s words coming true,” he added.
Asad Umar further said that the opposition hoped that the economic recession they left behind would be enough to oust the government but the PTI government brought the country out of the economic crisis.
He also accused the opposition of doing politics on legislation related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), saying that it had nothing to do with a political party or person.
Referring to Nawaz’s speech, Asad Umar said, “Indian media were all reporting that he has returned to politics and how? By attacking the army.” He further said, “Currently, the army and the civilian leadership were working together to solve the country’s problems.”
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