Opp slams labeling politicians as 'security threat'

Punjab Assembly lands appointment of defence forces' chief

LAHORE:

The opposition in Punjab Assembly has criticised the labelling as "security threat" of most popular leaders of Pakistan in the past and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan currently.

Opposition Leader Moeen Riaz Qureshi said the blame for poor governance by the current administration was unfairly shifting onto state institutions. "Separate the army from politics. People end up blaming the military," he said.

Addressing the assembly, the opposition leader accused the government of pushing a major political party "against the wall" and creating conditions that could plunge the country into another "dark chapter of history."

Qureshi said the PTI founder was "one of the biggest leaders of the Muslim world" with followers across the globe, raising the question whether the government's current approach served the national interest. "Are you doing good for this country or driving it into another dark night?" he asked.

He said history showed that Pakistan's most popular leaders, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, and Nawaz Sharif, had all been labelled security threats at different times.

"Our leader openly says the army is ours and the country is ours," he added.

He said this is not the old era, this is the age of social media.

Qureshi said the government could not hide anything in the modern age. "In today's world, a news story reaches the entire globe in one minute," he said, adding that people saw on social media how a political party was allegedly prevented from contesting elections.

He said the "world's most popular leader" was behind bars along with his wife, while his sisters were "desperate just to catch a glimpse of him."

The opposition leader alleged that false cases had been registered against opposition leaders across the country, claiming that six members of the assembly were also facing charges.

Qureshi said the PTI had never encouraged violence and demanded the formation of a judicial commission on the events of May 9. He accused the government of hiding behind the "establishment to prolong its illegitimate rule," alleging that its hands were "stained with corruption and bad governance."

The Punjab Assembly also passed a resolution lauding the appointment of Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan's Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF), declaring the development a milestone in the country's military evolution and a source of national pride.

The resolution stated that the appointment had enhanced Pakistan's stature at the international level and marked the beginning of a "new and golden chapter" in the nation's defence history.

It added that the decision had "unnerved all enemies, including India," and reflected Pakistan's commitment to strengthening and securing its borders.

According to the text, the new designation is a "significant landmark" for the country's defence system, and the nation holds complete trust in the leadership of the chief of the defence forces. The resolution expressed full confidence of the Punjab Assembly in Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir's leadership.

The assembly praised the armed forces for their continued efforts toward economic stability and national security, noting that the restoration of internal peace and the country's defensive strength formed the foundation of economic and social progress.