ISLAMABAD – Strongly disapproving the demoralising statement by Interior Minister Rehman Malik about the Pakistani cricket team, various political parties Monday demanded an immediate apology from him. Talking to Pakistan Today, PML-Q General-Secretary Mushahid Hussain Sayed termed the comments an insult to the whole nation and demoralising for the cricketers who were battling out a national cause on the enemy’s soil. “It is like a devil quoting verses,” he said, adding that the entire nation saluted Shahid Afridi and his team-mates for superb performance in the world cup. He said the PML-Q demanded an unconditional and immediate apology.
Syed Munawar Hassan, chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), said after this statement, it seemed that Rehman Malik had been working on an anti-Pakistan assignment. “Some times, he is observing the Taliban entering in India and on the other sees match-fixing,” Munawar said, adding that such statements could have negative impact on the performance of cricketers ahead of their crucial World Cup semi-final against India. PML-N’s MNA Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry while condemning Malik’s statement said the time not suitable for casting doubt on the cricket team.
PTI leader Umar Sarfraz Cheema termed the statement as an act of non seriousness. “It is not an appropriate time for such a statement,” he said. The leader of Markazi Jamiat Ahle-Hadith, Senator Prof Sajid Mir, said, “Rather than saying something absurd, it is better for the minister to stay quiet if he could not say something good for morale of cricket team.”
