PM Imran is deeply pious man without beard: Fawad

Opposition’s bid to malign premier by bringing religion into politics won’t succeed, says minister

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that Prime Minister Imran Khan is a deeply pious man but does not wear religion on his sleeve.

“He [PM Imran] is an honest man and a devout Muslim … he just doesn’t prefer wearing beard,” he said while speaking to the media outside parliament in Islamabad on Friday, Express News reported.

The minister said politics and religion must be kept apart. However, he added, opposition politicians in Pakistan often use religion to advance their agenda against the government.

Interestingly, the PTI had not supported the PML-N government when it was dealing with Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) – a religious party that accused the government of blasphemy –in the heart of the capital city in November 2017 and had condemned the use of force against the violent mob.

“Everyone is aware of the life he [Imran Khan] has spent and the values he keeps... they know he is an honest and pious man and any politicking on the matter would not succeed,” Chaudhry said.

Commenting on the country's ongoing political situation, the minister said the opposition appeared divided in today’s National Assembly session.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s JUI-F hijacked the session and interfered during Leader of the Opposition in NA Shehbaz Sharif’s speech on budget, he added.

“PPP and PML-N have the same narrative … they [Bilawal and Maryam] have one-point agenda of saving their fathers,” he remarked.