PML-N, PTI clash over martyr insults

Ministers slam social media campaign against fallen soldiers; former ruling party denies

ISLAMABAD:

The ruling PML-N on Sunday accused the PTI of running a malicious social media campaign to insult the martyrs of the armed forces, an accusation vehemently denied by the latter, which stated that martyrs were the nation’s collective assets, beyond all political divisions.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Information Minister Atta Tarar claimed that the PTI was targeting the army in collusion with India. “The Pakistan Army is the guarantee of our survival. This campaign to insult our martyrs is unacceptable, and the people responsible for it will be brought to justice,” he said.

The minister said that fake accounts of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) were created on social media platforms to mock the army. He pointed the finger at the PTI, alleging that the party had earlier mocked soldiers martyred in Waziristan and Lasbela.

“This party has a track record of launching derogatory and mocking campaigns on the social media regarding the sacrifices of the martyrs in the past as well. We strongly condemn such reprehensible actions,” he said.

Tarar said the social media accounts involved in insulting the martyrs would be identified, and action would be taken against them. “Many accounts are being operated from abroad, but some followers are also from Pakistan. Lists of individuals involved from Pakistan and abroad are being compiled,” he said.

Tarar alleged the PTI had been involved in activities that were harming the interests of the country. He referred to party founder Imran Khan’s alleged letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), asking it not to engage with the current political dispensation, as well as the alleged PTI supporters’ protest outside the IMF headquarters in the US.

“The PTI should openly condemn the people who raised slogans against Pakistan outside the IMF building and ran a campaign against our martyrs,” he said.

Read: Tarar brands PTI ‘anti-national’

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, while separately speaking to the media in his hometown of Sialkot, also condemned the malicious campaign against the martyred soldiers, while claiming that the campaign being run by “a political party” was “anti-state”.

“A political party launched a campaign on social media and mocked the sacrifices of the martyrs. Nothing can be more anti-state than this. Dragging martyrs into electoral disputes is a despicable act,” the defence minister said.

Asif said that the most of terrorism was emanating from the Afghan soil. He claimed that there was a connection between those who make statements against the martyrs, and the terrorists. “The same people who are coming to Pakistan from Afghanistan are providing them shelter,” he added.

Hitting out at the PTI, he said the former ruling party had lost its identity. “Today, it is an unnamed party. Who knows who is running this party, who is sitting abroad and hurling insults at the country,” he said.

Responding to the federal ministers media talks, a PTI’s spokesperson issued statement that said that “martyrs of the armed forces are our heroes and a common asset of the nation, without any political or group divisions”.

“Those who disrespect the martyrs by exploiting their sacrifices for their petty political gains are the real criminals,” he added. The spokesperson alleged that malicious attacks on the armed forces and its martyrs were consistent with the tradition of the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and his “courtiers”.

“Khawaja Asif and Atta Tarar are among those criminals rejected by the public, yet they were brought into parliament through rigged mandates.” the spokesperson said, adding that the assaults on the sanctity and status of martyrs from within the federal cabinet were a significant test for the state itself.

“The usurper prime minister should hold his ministers accountable, and refrain from exploiting the martyrs for his political ends, which only serves to hurt the sentiments of their families and the nation,” he added.