Giving strong reaction to the controversial remarks of PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq about return of captured Indian pilot Abhinandan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz Thursday asked him to tender apology in the Parliament or get ready to face legal action.
“All other things are secondary and the national interest is supreme at this point of time. We will not put Ayaz Sadiq’s statement, which has pleased India, on back-burner,” he told a press conference here. He said the PML-N leader will have to extend apology to the nation in the Parliament for causing harm to the national interest by making anti-state statement that has appeased India. “For this, the public will hold him accountable,” he added.
The leadership of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), he said, should also seek apology from the nation, and condemn Ayaz and their own anti-state statements, made in public meetings or in the Parliament. “Nothing less than this [apology] will be acceptable. It stands clear now that whosoever causes harm to national interest cannot be the well-wisher of the state. It [anti-state remarks] is sheer violation of Article 19 of the Constitution, which does not permit any statement against the state,” he said, adding that it will be okay if they [Ayaz and PDM leadership) tender apology in the Parliament, otherwise the law should take its course. By making such statements, he said, the opposition leaders have exposed themselves and now the public is well aware of the fact that they are pursuing anti-state agenda to protect their vested interests.
Meanwhile, Shibli Faraz, while strongly condemning Peshawar bomb blast, said it is right time to strengthen national institutions and discourage those elements who were supporting enemies’ agenda. Taking part in debate about seminary blast, he said whole country has strongly condemned the tragic incident in Peshawar and added the local government has taken steps to further beef up the security. “We should strengthen our national institutions to avoid recurrence of such tragic incidents,” he said.
He said Pakistan is passing through a critical juncture and the government is fully cognizant of its responsibility and added “We are well aware how anti-Islam forces are active against our country.” He said Pakistan has been facing war of terrorism for the last 19 years and had curbed the menace of terrorism with the active role and sacrifices of entire nation including Armed Forces. “The enemy has launched 5th generation war against the country and we have to foil their nefarious designs by forging unity among our ranks,” he added.
He said the Prime Minister had written a letter to heads of Islamic countries about incidents of blasphemy and Islamophobia, that hurt religious sentiments of Muslim Ummah. He said the prime minister has also rendered an effective speech about Islamophobia at the floor of UN General Assembly.
Shibli Faraz said Covid-19 has badly affected economies of multiple countries, and added owing to effective strategy of the incumbent government, the country did face minimum losses. “The pandemic still exists and we should be following Covid-19 guidelines, issued by the health authorities,” he added.
He said country’s economy is back on track and foreign direct investment is pouring in with stock exchange index witnessing upward trend.
