- Abbasi claims NSC meeting did not condemn Nawaz Sharif’s statement, but incorrect reporting
- Claims Nawaz Sharif ‘told me that he was misquoted by newspaper’, as deposed PM says he stands by his remarks
- PM’s press conference not aired by any TV channel, including PTV
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday held a press conference to “clear the confusion” over Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif’s recent statement on the Mumbai attacks, claiming that Nawaz’s remarks were taken “out of context” and were “misreported”.
Nawaz Sharif’s recent interview to Dawn has stirred a controversy and has drawn ire of the country’s top civil and military leadership with the National Security Committee (NSC) categorically denying the statement, calling it “completely false and misleading”.
The former premier had said: “Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?”
“We have isolated ourselves. Despite giving sacrifices, our narrative is not being accepted. Afghanistan’s narrative is being accepted, but ours is not. We must look into it,” he had said.
Nawaz’s remarks were immediately picked up by the Indian media, which termed the former prime minister’s statement as a “confession of Pakistan’s role in the Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead”.
Addressing a hurriedly called press conference soon after the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting and his subsequent meeting with Sharif, Prime Minister Abbasi said Pakistan had no hand in the Mumbai attacks and neither it was responsible for the delay in the case trial.
The prime minister said that Nawaz Sharif had told him that he was misquoted by the newspaper and the Indian media tried to use his statement for “ulterior motives”.
“Nawaz has said that his newspaper interview was misreported and he did not say all that has been attributed to him,” the prime minister said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Nawaz Sharif has endorsed the interview published by the newspaper, earlier in the day.
The PM didn’t comment on a question pertaining to taking a legal action against the newspaper for “misquoting” Nawaz Sharif.
The premier chose to read out a statement at the presser and later took questions from a selected group of media persons, most of whom were television anchorpersons.
Asked whether he had distanced himself from the NSC meeting, which was held earlier in the day, wherein top civil and military leadership condemned Nawaz Sharif’s statement, Abbasi claimed that the NSC did not condemn Nawaz Sharif’s statement, but the incorrect reporting of the former prime minister’s interview.
Speaking about the NSC meeting, the premier said, “We made a resolve that Pakistan’s soil will not be allowed to be used for terrorism.”
In response to a question on civil-military issues in the country, Abbasi said misunderstandings occur but are removed when facts are brought to the fore. Assuring that no one is pulling his strings, the premier said it was his own decision to give the explanatory statement.
Expressing support for Nawaz, Abbasi said the entire party, including Shehbaz Sharif, stands with the PML-N supremo. “Nawaz Sharif is still our Quaid,” he said, adding that he still considers Nawaz as his prime minister.
“A few sentences [from the newspaper interview] were blown out of proportion and context. I have clarified those,” he asserted. “No one can dictate me,” he added.
Answering a question, Abbasi said he will not resign nor is there any pressure on him to do so, adding that the government will complete its tenure at the end of this month after which he’ll leave office.
Surprisingly, the press conference was not aired on any TV channel, including the state-run Pakistan Television.