Minister for Information Shibli Faraz Saturday has accused the 11-party anti-government alliance – the Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) – of trying to destabilise the country and made it clear that the government will not tolerate anti-state statements of the opposition.
“The opposition is directly attacking the state institutions with an aim to create divisions. Leaders in the PDM did not condemn the objectionable statements of some of their associates but on occasions even came to their defence,” Shibli said on Saturday in a press conference.
The minister was referring to a controversial statement of a PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq with regard to release of an Indian pilot whose fighter jet was downed by the Pakistan Air Force after it violated the country’s airspace in February last year.
“The speech of Ayaz Sadiq caused anger and grief in the public. Sadiq criticised the Pakistan Army and air force and the Indian media used his remarks to damage Pakistan,” he continued.
He said the opposition develops a narrative based on its own interests rather than the interests of the country. According to the minister, the narrative of the PDM is against the political interests of the country at international forums including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The FATF is an intergovernmental organization that develops policies for countering money laundering and terror financing. The watchdog put Pakistan on its grey list in June last year and has recently asked Pakistan to implement its 27-point action plan by February 2021.
Shibli said: “Since Dawn Leaks, there is continuity of incidents which shows that the country is being pushed towards instability. Unfortunately India is using statements of the opposition to unleash propaganda against Pakistan.”
Dawn Leaks refers to a news report that claimed in October 2016 that the civil leadership – then headed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif – warned the military leadership against allegedly supporting non-state actors in neighboring countries.
The minister said it was established that a country could disintegrate by demoralizing its armed forces. In this context, he gave examples of Libya, Syria and Afghanistan where such methods were used to create chaos and destruction.
Shibli warned that the government would not allow the opposition to issue irresponsible statements which are against the country and which are damaging it at the international level.
In a post on Twitter, Shibli asked members and workers of the PML-N whether they are loyal to the country or to the Sharif family. Time has come to raise voice for the motherland and to make a patriotic decision. It is indispensable to create a Muslim League Pakistan, he wrote.
میں نون لیگ کے کارکنان اور ممبران سے پوچھتا ہوں، کیا وطن کے وفادار ہو یا ایک خاندان کے؟ وقت آ گیا ہے اپنی پاک دھرتی کے لئے آواز اٹھانے کا اور ایک محبِ وطن فیصلے کا۔مسلم لیگ پاکستان کا قیام ناگزیر ھو گیا ہے۔
— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) October 31, 2020
Separately, Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan lambasted the opposition while claiming that the PML-N is facing internal divisions and that the PPP will also distance itself from the PDM.
The PDM was cobbled together last month with the avowed aim to dislodge the PTI government. In the PDM rallies, leaders of some opposition parties – particularly the PML-N and JUI-F – have harshly criticized the military establishment for bringing the PTI into power through “rigged polls” in 2018.
(With additional input from APP)
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