Shahzad Akbar questions IG Sindh's failure to register FIR after 'abduction'

Following former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's presser, Adviser to Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar on Thursday questioned why the Inspector General (IG) Sindh did not register a first information report (FIR) if he was abducted.

Addressing a press conference alongside Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz, Akbar said a political circus has been set up to discredit the nation.

Referring to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Captain (retd) Safdar's arrest, he said everyone saw that he was taken by the Sindh police on a bailable charge.

"If we had to do this, we would not have arrested him under bailable provisions," the minister said, adding that the province's former governor Muhammad Zubair lied when he claimed that Sindh Police chief Mushtaq Mahar was coerced into arresting Safdar.

He further added that the Sindh Police released a statement on Twitter and said action was taken in accordance with the law. However, later they withdrew the statement.

"Everyone knows where the Sindh police get orders from," he said.

Criticising PML-N leaders Ahsan Iqbal and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Akbar said the party's thugs claimed that the government is trying to benefit from Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. "We are taking steps as per the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Read their decision."

Shibli Faraz further dismissed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah's allegations that a federal minister threatened to dismiss the provincial government if a case was not filed against the former premier's son-in-law Captain (retd) Safdar.

Referring to Captain (retd) Safdar's actions at the Quaid's mausoleum, the federal minister said the opposition is trying to hurt the image of the country. "The riot was a clear violation of the law. The chief minister told a lie on the assembly floor. Even if there is any tension with Safdar, the Sindh government is responsible for it."

He reiterated that the opposition wants to weaken the country and its democracy.

"Opposition parties want to create chaos and uncertainty out of fear that their power will end once Prime Minister Imran Khan succeeds in his mission to take forward the country on the path of progress and development," he said.

Regretting the opposition parties' intentions to create a clash amongst institutions, Shibli stated the federal government is trying to improve the situation by appointing reputable people.

The federal minister further added that the economy has revived and all economic indicators are on a positive trajectory.