'Sharif, Bilawal's differing stances on 'Karachi incident' report reflect division in PDM'

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said on Wednesday that contradicting stances taken by the opposition regarding the 'Karachi incident' highlights the division within the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

In a tweet, he said Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari welcomed the inquiry report on the incident, that preceded the arrest of Capt Safdar in on October 19, while Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif 'rejected' it.

He said this difference in both the opposition parties' - part of the 11-party alliance known as the PDM - stance clearly shows a division in the movement.

Shibli added that these people will now need another charter after this second one.

The federal minister said the movement lacks any direction or a single ideology and therefore has no future.

Bilawal, on November 10, welcomed the action taken on the findings of a probe carried out on the instructions of the army chief into the ‘Karachi incident’, while his ally in the opposition alliance, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, “rejected” the inquiry report calling it a “cover-up”.

Addressing a public meeting in Gilgit-Baltistan, the scion of the Bhutto dynasty appreciated that a court of inquiry formed on the orders of Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had completed its probe and action had also been taken.

“I had demanded that the chief of army staff should order an inquiry and take action. I have received good news that the inquiry has been completed and action has also been taken,” he said.

“We should welcome this step. They elevate the stature of institutions,” he added.

However, Sharif, who is in London for medical treatment since last year, had a different take on the matter.

The convicted former premier said the findings of the inquiry into the arrest of Safdar, his son-in-law, were an attempt to “scapegoating juniors and shielding the real culprits”.

“Inquiry report on Karachi incident is a cover-up scapegoating juniors & shielding the real culprits. Report ‘Rejected’,” he tweeted from his official handle.

The Pakistan Army on Tuesday announced the removal of officers involved in the ‘Karachi incident’.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the military media's wing stated that the decision for their removal was taken on the basis of the Court of Inquiry's recommendations. The officers will be removed from their current assignments for further departmental proceedings and disposal at GHQ.

The inquiry, carried out on the orders of COAS Gen Bajwa, pertaining to the issue of redressing IG Sindh's grievances in the backdrop of October 18, 2020 Karachi incident has been completed, the statement read.