Vawda slams ‘unnecessary’ targeting of institutions

Ex-federal minister lauds army’s statement on ‘false claims’ that it was interfering in polls

ISLAMABAD:

Lauding the military's statement against the 'politically-driven campaign’, former federal minister Faisal Vawda on Tuesday said that such a tough stance from the military's top brass should have been taken many years ago.

Speaking to a private TV news channel, Vawda said that over the past decade, all political parties had "unnecessarily" aimed their arrows at institutions. "If this interference had been halted earlier, we wouldn't be facing the current situation," he added.

"Nevertheless, better late than never. It's a positive step." The former PTI leader further said that allegations against Supreme Court judges should not be made without evidence, stating that there was a proper procedure for such matters, which involves referring them to the Supreme Judicial Council.

Similarly, Vawda urged those with issues against the military to follow established mechanisms rather than resorting to unacceptable social media criticism. “However, it is unacceptable to speak against [the military] on social media.”

Vawda accused certain individuals of running a specific campaign on social media platforms solely for financial gain, claiming that the more criticism they receive, the more views they garner, ultimately earning dollars.

According to him, these individuals have done nothing substantial for the country and are merely lining their pockets. “The more you criticise, the more views you receive and earn dollars.”

Lauding the stance taken by the military, Vawda described it as crucial for Pakistan's autonomy and survival. “Taking action against past mistakes is a commendable step. Whoever is involved should be dealt with promptly without any leniency.”

Speaking about last year’s May 9 violence, Vawda asked if PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen was claiming that it was all “staged “, and was the attack on party founding chairman Imran Khan also a “drama”. He said that both incidents were real.