PTI chief acted on Israel’s instance, says Tarar

Israel’s criticism of human rights in Pakistan clear evidence that Jewish state extended support to Imran, says SAPM

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Interior and Legal Affairs Attaullah Tarar Tuesday said the fake narrative of the Israeli government at a United Nations meeting about the human rights violations in Pakistan was clear evidence that the Jewish state extended support to the PTI chairman in carry out the May 9 arson and mayhem.

Addressing a news conference along with Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Senator Sherry Rehman, the SAPM said May 9 incidents were anti-state acts.

“We have been pointing out since the first day that those who carried out the mayhem have links with the enemy,” he added.

The PTI had close links with anti-state elements since Israeli would not have funded any pro-Pakistan party, he said.

Tarar said May 9 mayhem was the darkest chapter in Pakistan’s history and its “culprit” would have to face the law since no one was supreme to the state.

He said it had now become clear that Imran Khan had been doing all the anti-state activities at the instance of Israel.

Pakistan and Israel earlier today traded blame in a rare diplomatic spat over human rights issues, as Islamabad condemned Tel Aviv for criticising the South Asian country on human rights.

The diplomatic spat was triggered by Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN, who during the session of Human Rights Council in Geneva voiced concerns over the rights situation in Pakistan.

Read more: Pakistan hits back at Israel over HR criticism

Taking part in the debate, Adil Farjon accused Pakistan of enforced disappearances, torture, crackdown on peaceful protests and violence against religious minorities.

“Israel believes that it is essential that Pakistan heeds our recommendations to take all appropriate steps to prevent arbitrary arrests, torture and other ill-treatment and bring perpetrators of such acts to justice and end the widespread use of the death penalty, especially against children and persons with disabilities,” she said.

Farjon called on Pakistan to “decriminalise same-sex activities” in line with international human rights standards and adopt a “comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation” in this regard.

The Israel envoy also expressed concerns over the parliament passing amendments in January to tighten the blasphemy law in Pakistan, which she claimed was “often used to target and persecute religious and other minority groups”.

In response, foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement that Israel's politically motivated statement was fundamentally at variance with the otherwise positive tone of the session and the statements made by a vast majority of states.

“Given Israel’s long history of oppression of Palestinians, Pakistan can certainly do without its advice on protecting Human Rights,” she added.

Separately the government ministers too condemned the statement of the Israeli envoy.

Federal minister for climate change Sherry Rehman alleged that Pakistan’s enemies, who spoke against Palestinians, Muslims and Kashmiris at every international forum, were now supporting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

(With input from APP)