Opposition is playing with fire, says minister

Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz has said the opposition is unwittingly playing with fire and that people are going to hold it accountable for creating unrest in the country.

“The opposition is working on the agenda of the enemies and is spreading an anti-state narrative,” he said on Wednesday while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

Shibli was referring to the opposition’s ongoing protest movement under a newly cobbled alliance – the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). The PDM, which held big rallies in Gujranwala and Karachi respectively on October 16 and 18, aimed at dislodging the PTI led federal government.

The minister said these people have been ruling the country for the last 40 year. However, during their rules, the only thing that has improved and grown is their personal businesses. “These people have betrayed the ideals of democracy and tried to sabotage the accountability process.”

The minister likened the opposition leaders with Banarsi Thugs – historically a gang of bandits who used to rob people in 19 century India after murdering them through trickery.

“The Banarsi Thugs travel on precious Land Cruiser cars but speak about inequality and poverty. We will rid the people of these thugs. Soon all of them will be behind bars,” he added.

He said after coming into power in 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan had predicted that the opposition will gang up against him in order to stop the accountability process.

“We were alone before coming into power and we are alone now. We had fought them when we were in opposition and we will fight with them now. The forces of good are aligned with the government of Imran Khan,” he said. “Imran Khan is ready to compromise on everything except corruption.”

The information minister said the main opposition parties – the PPP and the PML-N – have been slinging mud at each other in the past.

He said the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had become head of the party by virtue of hereditary politics – after assassination of his mother Benazir Bhutto in December 2007.

“PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz is also enjoying this elevated position in her party just because of her being the daughter of former PM Nawaz Sharif and not because of any personal merit,” he added.