Govt won’t let anyone speak ill of Pakistan, Quaid: PTI

Zaman says Sindh Police realised no one was above the law as they arrested Safdar

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Khurrum Sher Zaman on Monday said the government would not allow anyone to speak against the country or the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Addressing a press conference alongside PTI's parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh, Zaman commended the Sindh Police for 'fulfilling its responsibility' by arresting former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar for violating the sanctity of the Quaid's mausoleum. "The provincial police have realised that no one is above the law."

Zaman claimed Safdar was walking on the Quaid's grave, chanting slogans of "vote ko izzat do" [respect the vote], adding that the FIR against him was only registered after a 10-hour-long protest.

He took a dig at the slogan being shouted by Safdar at the mausoleum as well, saying, "Those who talk about respecting votes themselves only respect [currency] notes."

Criticising the opposition parties, he said they had no interest in the country and added that Rs600 to Rs700 million was spent on the rally held in Karachi on Sunday.

"The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rallies proved they have nothing to do with the people. Surprisingly, no mention of Sindh was made in yesterday's rally," he noted. "[Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson] Bilawal Bhutto Zardari did not mention the lack of drinking water in the province or that there is no treatment taking place at hospitals in Sindh. [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz vice-president] Maryam Nawaz did not ask about the recent floods in Karachi."

Zaman further remarked that PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari used to call Nawaz a national thief. "He used to say that if we forgive Nawaz, God will not forgive us."

Moreover, he spoke about an incident where a journalist was beaten by political workers during the PDM rally, stating that journalists were being punished because they were playing an important role in exposing the truth.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2020.