APC has already lost its steam, says minister

Opposition trying to pit people against armed forces, claims Ghulam Sarwar Khan

RAWALPINDI:

Another federal minister has poked fun at the opposition leaders – who faced embarrassment after emergence of reports of their secret meetings with the military leadership – and claimed that the oppositions’ recently held all-parties conference (APC) has already run out of steam.

“The APC’s balloon is already busted,” said Minister Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Saturday while inaugurating a gas supply project in his constituency in the garrison town of Rawalpindi.

The opposition parties on September 20 upped the ante against the PTI led federal government as they demanded immediate resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, while announcing an alliance –the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – that will begin a country-wide protest against the government.

In the PPP-hosted APC, the opposition also ratcheted up its narrative against alleged rigging in the July 2018 general election and demanded that the powerful establishment should not only refrain itself from interfering in politics but also confine its role as defined in the Constitution.

Through a 26-point resolution and a seven-point action plan issued after the APC in a press conference, the opposition parties put forward their demands, including free, fair, transparent elections without having any role of the armed forces and agencies.

However, a day after the APC, reports emerged which showed the opposition leaders had held meetings with the military leadership ahead of the opposition confab.

This report whipped up a scandal followed by allegations and counter allegations.

Later, the PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, who had fired a broadside at the establishment at the APC, barred his party leaders from holding private meetings with the military leaders.

Talking in reference to this scandal, Ghulam Sarwar Khan said there is no harm in meeting with the head of any state institution in the national interest.

“However, they [opposition leaders] walk arrogantly during the daytime but at night they kneel down, begging to withdraw [the corruption] cases filed against them. The PTI government will complete its five-year term. Those who dream of power will end up getting disqualified for life,” he added.

The minister said the opposition is trying to pit the people against the country armed forces. “This is the enemy’s agenda. This is the agenda of Indians and Zionists,” he added.