Statement on Mumbai attacks: Senators questions Sharif’s motive and timing

PTI demands to institute a high treason case against former PM for violating his oath

ISLAMABAD: The controversial statement of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif about Mumbai 2008 terrorist attacks came under discussion in the Senate on Monday where JUI-F, an ally of the ruling PML-N, also joined the opposition parties in criticising Sharif and questioned its motive and timing.

Speaking on a motion moved by the PkMAP, Maulana Ghafoor Haidri of the JUI-F demanded that motives behind Sharif’s statement should be investigated. He termed it a direct hit on country’s security.

Senator Talha Mehmood, another JUI-F Senator, questioned the timing of the statement and said it came at a time when the country is going to elections.

“Such statements might help Sharif gain his vested interests, but they will be detrimental to the country. Pakistan is already on a watch list and under pressure from international community,” he added.

Imran Khan’s PTI demanded to institute a high treason case against Sharif for violating his oath and narrating India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s anti-Pakistan narrative.

“This is no less than a confession from a man who has been the prime minister of the country thrice. He has been doing so to save himself from accountability,” said PTI’s Azam Swati.

Swati, the PTI’s parliamentary leader, said former PM has been saying he has many secrets which he can reveal. “Was this one of such secrets that he wants to reveal merely to save his skin?”

He said through such irresponsible statement Sharif has tried to belittle the sacrifices the armed forces have rendered in the war against terrorism.

Senator Shibli Faraz of the PTI said the narrative of Nawaz Sharif seems to be narrative of India. He demanded that there should be a thorough investigation about the businesses of Sharif’s sons in India. He said business interests of Sharif family can be a reason for his tilt towards the hostile neighbour.



Another PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz said such a statement cannot be taken lightly, adding that had those responsible for Dawn leaks been taken to task, such things would not have repeated.

The MQM’s Khushbakht Shujaat said when the founding chief of her party, Altaf Hussain, gave a similar statement two years back, the party’s lawmakers disassociated themselves from him.

PkMAP Senator Usman Kakar, however, claimed that what Nawaz Sharif said the other day about the role of non-state actors in Mumbai attacks had been said by many others including formers ministers and others. He said it was only the parliament that can decide who is a patriot and who is disloyal to Pakistan.

The PML-N’s Javed Abbasi advocated playing sensible politics. He said in the past political parties were disintegrated and in the darkness of night and new parties were formed, forcing politicians to be part of them.  “This practice of engineered parties must end. Political parties should be allowed to grow and gain strength” he added.

The PML-N Senator Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qayyum called for concerted efforts to bring stability in the country. He said freedom of expression is right of every citizen but it should be exercised with care.

FM briefs Senate on Khorasani

Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Khurram Dastagir on Monday informed the Senate that the step was taken by ‘a country’ to block Pakistan’s request at the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee to get Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) leader Abdul Wali alias Umer Khalid Khurasani listed is regrettable.

In a ministerial response to a question asked by senators regarding the UN sanctions on Khorasani, the minister said efforts are being made to designate Khorasani as a globally recognised terrorist.

“A member country opposed designating Khurasani as a global terrorist and placed a technical hold. Consequently, on May 4, 2018, the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee rejected Pakistan’s application,” he added. The minister said that he cannot divulge into more details on this issue, given the sensitivity of the matter.

Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandiviwalla proposed an in-camera briefing on the issue. The minister, however, did not agree to the chair’s suggestion.