PTI rejects govt body to investigate ‘threat letter’
Photo: PID
The PTI on Thursday dismissed the government’s decision earlier in the day of setting up of a body to investigate the “threat letter”, demanding the formation of an independent judicial commission to probe into the matter instead.
“We reject the government’s move to form a ‘subordinate’ commission,” former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said while addressing a joint press conference with former minister of state Farrukh Habib.
He added that the party would only recognise a commission that was subordinate to an independent judiciary and held an open hearing.
Reacting to the news conference of Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Fawad claimed that she appeared “very nervous”.
He added that the “crime minister” and his cabinet had advised her not to panic. “Your time to panic will start after tomorrow’s [PTI] rally.”
The former information minister claimed that two thirds of the incumbent government was made up of people on bail, and since they came to power, terrorism had increased by 24%.
Commenting on the power crisis, he said that there was no energy minister in the country for three weeks. “The country is in crisis because of the ‘monkey distribution’ of ministries.”
Speaking about the alleged “foreign conspiracy”, Fawad traced its roots to former premier Imran Khan’s refusal to give military bases to the US.
“Imran Khan had said ‘Absolutely Not’ to the question of giving bases to the US,” he claimed.
“Our opinion is to go to the polls before the crisis arises.”
Responding to Finance Minister Miftah Ismail’s statement, he said: “What if the people are in parliament tomorrow and you have to stand in the sun?”
He also pointed out that there was an important hearing in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday (today), and “all our accounts related to foreign funding are clear”. He accused the commission of delaying the case.
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The former information minister said that if 25 members of the Punjab Assembly were disqualified, the mandate of the PML-N there would expire.
He claimed that unfortunately, Imran had “small-minded” opponents. He added that the decisions of Pakistan were to be made by its own people and they want good relations with Russia, the US and the overall Western world.
He alleged that the incumbent government was imposed from Washington, and protests against this are taking place in Paris and London.
Speaking on the occasion, Habib said an independent commission should be formed under the Supreme Court to hold an open hearing.
“On Hamza Shehbaz’s return [to power], Maqsood Chaprasi was also brought [back] from abroad,” he added.
The former state minster called on the ECP to disqualify the “traitors”.
In a reference to Hamza, he also claimed that the “fake chief minister” was a guest for a few days.
The ex-minister of state claimed that the “imported” government had ruined Pakistan’s economy, and they are focused on making a case against PTI.
He also said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave himself an NRO (amnesty) as soon as became the premier.
He further remarked that his party’s accounts were clear when it came to foreign funding.