Leader of the opposition in the Senate and veteran Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan severely criticised the government for its lack of will in eliminating terrorism from the country.
Talking to Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami on his Channel 24 programme DNA, Aitzaz said the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nazwaz (PML-N) is not serious in launching the operation against terrorists in Punjab as the party is full of terrorist sympathisers.
“The suicide bomber who blew himself up in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore and killed over 70 people belonged to Southern Punjab where PML-N is reluctant to carry out an operation. This tragic incident could be avoided if the operation was launched in a timely manner in Punjab, which hosts hundreds of militant sanctuaries,” Aitzaz said and asked how a stern action against terrorists could be conducted by those who publicly wept at the killing of Hakemullah Mehsud. He said the Punjab chief minister had pleaded with the terrorists in the past to spare his province as he shared their ideology.
The programme was interrupted for the prime minister’s speech. Commenting on the speech, Aitzaz said the prime minister had said absolutely nothing of substance during his speech. In addition to showing the lack of will, the speech betrayed the helplessness of the government. Aitzaz said that more than 200 police officials are deputed on the security of Hamza Shehbaz while 800 policemen are there to handle the security of Jati Umra, the personal residence of Nawaz Sharif.
Aitzaz said that it appears the rift is widening between the civil and the military leadership of the country. He said Nawaz Sharif’s speech was utterly useless and that the prime minister had just wasted people’s time. He said the speech lacked not only substance but also style. He agreed with Arif Nizami that the speech was full of plaudits and failed on multiple fronts.
Aitzaz criticised Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and said that he disappeared at all crucial junctures of the country’s history. “I have warned Prime Minister several times to beware of his cabinet members as these people always create embarrassment for him,” he said.