Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Thursday slammed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for spreading a "fake narrative" regarding the recent terrorist attack on Jaffar Express.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the federal minister accused PTI’s social media platforms of misrepresenting the tragic incident and undermining national unity by promoting misinformation.
The statement comes after security forces carried out a two-day operation to neutralise the terrorists who had hijacked the Jaffar Express.
The ordeal began on Tuesday when separatist militants ambushed the Jaffar Express en route from Quetta to Peshawar, blowing up the railway track and attacking the train with rockets.
Following the operation, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry revealed that 21 hostages lost their lives during the day-long standoff.
However, he firmly said that no civilians were harmed in the final rescue operation carried out by the armed forces.
During his speech today, Khawaja Asif expressed sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in the attack and criticised PTI for misinterpreting the situation.
He specifically pointed out how PTI-affiliated social media accounts falsely claimed that the terrorists had released the hostages, instead of acknowledging the sacrifices made by the armed forces in the rescue operation.
He also accused PTI leaders living abroad of continuing to criticize national institutions while avoiding accountability.
The defence minister referred to PTI's leaders as products of past military regimes, pointing out their support for martial law and constitutional violations in the past.
Khawaja Asif admitted that his party had also supported a military regime in the past but emphasised that they had the decency to acknowledge their past mistakes. He urged all political leaders to learn from historical failures to move the country forward.
Asif condemned PTI’s attempts to politicise terrorism and national security, stressing that politics should not come before Pakistan’s integrity.
He called on leaders to put aside personal interests and recognise the sacrifices of the armed forces in the fight against terrorism.
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