Madrassas providing 'foot soldiers' to PTI for Nov 2 Islamabad siege: Khawaja Asif

Seminaries funded by K-P government are paying back, says defence minister

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that students of seminaries in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) were providing foot soldiers for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Nov 2 Islamabad siege.

Madrassas funded by KPK govt r paying back & providing foot soldiers for PTI attempt to take over Islamabad on 2Nov..

— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) October 19, 2016

"Madrassas funded by the K-P government are paying back & providing foot soldiers for PTI's attempt to take over Islamabad on November 2," the defence minister tweeted on Tuesday.



In June this year, the K-P government set aside Rs300 million in the budget allocation for religious seminary Darul Uloom Haqqania. The PTI chairman had defended the move, saying it was intended to help the students assimilate in the society and keep them away from radicalisation.

The statement comes as PTI readies to launch it's protest in Islamabad to press the premier for an inquiry into the Panama Papers leaks.

Earlier during the day, Imran said the premier was under a wrong impression about forming a government in 2018, saying that day 'was too far.' He claimed thousands of people would gather in Islamabad on November 2. People have realised Nawaz Sharif needs to be held accountable to purge the country of corruption, he added.



Leaked documents from the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama in April showed several world leaders, including the premier’s three children, Hassan and Hussain and Maryam, owning at least three offshore holding companies registered in the British Virgin Islands.

The government and the opposition parties have been unable to evolve joint Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Panama Papers investigation. While the government insists that investigation should involve all those named in corruption cases, opposition parties say the process should begin with the assets of the premier’s family.