Shibli demands apology from Ayaz in NA

Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Shibli Faraz on Thursday demanded that PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq should apologise on the floor of the National Assembly for claiming that Pakistan had released captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman fearing retaliation from the neighbouring country.

“He [Ayaz] should apologise for his irresponsible statement, which has been much celebrated by the Indian media,” the minister said while addressing a news conference.

Shibli added that India's so-called military might was badly exposed at the hands of Pakistani heroes in February last year when its fighter jet was shot down after it had crossed the Line of Control in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the pilot was captured.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan had decided to release the captured Indian pilot as a response from a responsible state, because neither Pakistan nor India can afford to go to war.”

The minister said the country was lauded by the world for its decision to release Abhinandan. Regretfully, he added, the opposition was trying to make an event of national pride controversial and portray the country's victory as defeat.

Shibli reiterated that the opposition parties, under the banner of their alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement, were criticising state institutions to protect their personal interests and win some concessions for their corrupt leadership.

Ayaz, a former speaker of the National Assembly also faced scathing criticism from other ministers for his remarks.

Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Haider Zaidi went as far as to say that “Ayaz Sadiq should be publicly called Mir Sadiq [who is believed to have betrayed Tipu Sultan] from now onwards”.

Zaidi added that Pakistan had suffered enough at the hands of “criminals masquerading as politicians”.

“He [Ayaz] has lied on the floor of the house to feed the false narrative of our enemies.”

Similarly, Water Resources Minister Faisal Vawda condemned Ayaz’s remarks and claimed that the PML-N was hatching conspiracies against national institutions to defame them.

Speaking to a private TV channel, the minister stressed the need for taking legal action against the PML-N leader to discourage the trend of making such claims in future.

“The PML-N is promoting the anti-state agenda of the enemy,” he added.

Federal Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry also accused the PML-N leader of lying on the issue of the Indian pilot. “He lied with a lot of confidence.”

The minister said the opposition needed to act responsibly. “You are welcome to criticise the federal government but the state should not be subjected to criticism.”

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi dismissed the PML-N leader’s remarks, saying that it was surprising that "responsible people are giving irresponsible statements”.