- Rehman Malik urges deposed PM to retract remarks
- Fazlur Rehman calls for probe into claims that Pakistan was involved in Mumbai attacks
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who has been in the limelight for months for criticising the judiciary and military establishment, has stirred another controversy when he commented on the 2007 Mumbai attacks in a recent interview to Dawn.
Nawaz Sharif 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?”
His remarks were played up by the Indian media as an “admission” of Pakistan’s involvement in the terrorist attacks.
Earlier in the day, not just the country’s top military and civil leadership condemned the remarks in the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting, calling them “completely false and misleading”, but politicians have also expressed their dismay.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and Senator Rehman Malik demanded that Nawaz Sharif should retract his statement about the Mumbai attacks of 2007.
While addressing the press conference, Malik said that he is not going to speak against anyone. However, when talking about Mumbai attacks, he stated that he made a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the case, but India stalled the investigation by refusing to corporate with Pakistan and allowing to record primary suspect Ajmal Kasab’s statement before his hanging and failing to provide evidence against the suspects.
He further stated that India orchestrated the attack in order to take the world’s attention away from the violence in occupied Kashmir.
In light of the remark, Malik pleaded Nawaz to take back his statement and wondered how the former prime minister will explain his remarks if summoned by the United Nations.
‘INDIA STRENGTHENING ITS CASE WITH NAWAZ’S STATEMENT’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry remarked that Nawaz’s statement had tainted Pakistan’s reputation in the world. “India is using Nawaz’s statement to strengthen its case,” he said, adding that Nawaz Sharif’s statement has brought harm to country’s institutions.
Nawaz merely reiterated Indian conspiracy to get Pakistan labelled as a ‘terrorist state’, he claimed. “Nawaz has used the Indian gun to initiate firing on Pakistan.”
All political parties should unite to condemn Nawaz’s statements, he asserted.
“Nawaz considers himself to be above state and institutions, which is quite unfortunate,” the PTI spokesperson said. “Nawaz is victim of political loneliness in his party, his workers are standing with Pakistan.”
‘INVESTIGATE IF THERE IS ANY TRUTH IN NAWAZ’S CLAIMS’:
On the other hand, Muttahida Majlis–e–Amal chief Fazlur Rahman remarked that it should be investigated to see if there is any truth in Nawaz’s statement.
“Nawaz’s statement should be investigated seriously as he has thrice served as the country’s prime minister,” said Fazlur Rahman.
He further said that sensitive topics should not be discussed. “There are some things expressing opinion on which is harmful for the nation,” he added.
‘NAWAZ, KHAQAN ABBASI HAVE NO POLITICAL FUTURE’:
Separately, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed remarked that Nawaz Sharif wants Pakistan to turn into a kingdom.
“Nawaz and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi have no political future,” he remarked.
He alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif cannot say anything in front of PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz. “There is no record of Nawaz’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Many people have left PML-N because of Nawaz’s statements, he added.
‘SUCH STATEMENTS RUIN PAKISTAN’S IMAGE’:
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira also criticised the former premier’s remarks.
He said that such statements ruin the image of Pakistan.
Nawaz had earlier said that he is competing with ‘aliens’ and not political parties, Kaira said, adding that Nawaz wants to go against institutions while his brother wants to work with institutions.
NISAR’S RESPONSE TO MUMBAI ATTACKS CONTROVERSY ‘FACTUALLY CORRECT’:
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Marvi Memon on Monday declared response of former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan regarding Mumbai attacks controversy as “factually correct”.
The PML-N leader took to social networking website Twitter and lauded the ex-minister for his statement. She also termed him as “son of the soil”.
Chaudhry Nisar had stated that India’s stubbornness and uncooperative behaviour are the biggest obstacles in completing the Mumbai attacks’ trial.
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