Fazl's remarks an insult to martyrs' sacrifices: Fawad

It's better for JUI-F chief not to cast such unfounded doubts on matters of national interest, advises info minister

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday strongly condemned the statement of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, in which he claimed that "we are not capable of fighting for 24 hours".

"It was tantamount to insulting the martyrs who had sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism and for the security of the motherland," the minister said in a statement.

Also read: Didn’t expect PPP, ANP to make BAP their ‘Baap’: Fazl

He said that the "ageing" leader of JUI-F could not probably bear his "disrespect" at the hands of young Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and started talking on the issues about which he knew nothing.

Advising Fazlur Rehman to avoid giving such irresponsible statements, Fawad recalled that it was the JUI-F chief who had expressed scepticism about Pakistan's defence capabilities by stating that the Taliban had reached the hills (near the federal capital).

"His misplaced suspicions were dispelled by Pakistan's valiant armed forces and law enforcement agencies by breaking the back of terrorists," he added.

The info minister also said it was better for Maulana Fazl not to cast such unfounded doubts on the matters of national interest only to satisfy his political ego.

Read more: Fazl urges PPP, ANP to rejoin PDM

"Where was Maulana Fazl when Pakistan had responded to the Indian aggression on February 27 in 2019," he questioned.

He wished Maulana Fazl should have shown concern about innocent Kashmiris facing Indian brutalities when his "friend" Nawaz Sharif was embracing his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Raiwind.

"Attacking the national institutions for political reasons was highly reprehensible," Fawad further said.

Taking a jibe on the Pakistan Democratic Movement, the minister said any alliance, which was ever led by Maulana Fazl till today, could not "fight" for even 12 hours.