LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: Government ministers on Friday roundly lambasted the opposition PTI, accusing it of trying to create chaos in the country, particularly during visits by foreign dignitaries.

“PTI is a terrorist party and has nothing to do with politics. This disruptive group always opposes national development. The prisoner from Adiala Jail [Imran Khan] seeks chaos, destruction, and bloodshed,” Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said in a statement.

She claimed that Imran Khan did not support Pakistan’s prosperity in any way. “Whenever the country starts to make progress, his disruptive party tries to obstruct it.”

Chiding KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s attempt to “storm Islamabad with cranes, lifters, government resources and employees,” Ms Bokhari wondered whether political struggles involved using such tactics.

Azma says Imran’s party has always opposed national development

“Gandapur has come not for a political show but to create unrest and anarchy in the country,” she said, adding that it was obvious that he had brought the machinery from KP to carry out an assault on Islamabad.

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However, she said people of Punjab had rejected the “disruptive group” as no one came out on his call. “Anyone violating the law in Punjab will face strict consequences. Protecting citizens’ lives and property is the government’s responsibility,” she said.

Ms Bokhari pointed out that a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was to take place in Islamabad soon, but PTI was attempting to sabotage it.

“Pakistan is re-establishing its ties with the international community while those who seek to isolate Pakistan are resorting to the same old tactics,” she regretted.

Echoing her remarks, federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar emphasised, “We have to show the soft and positive identity of Pakistan to the world; the opposition can hold its protest on the floor of parliament.”

Addressing a presser in Islamabad, he said it was unfortunate that PTI held a sit-in in Islamabad when the Chinese president was due to visit the country in 2014 which delayed the launch of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

Now, when Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was in Islamabad, the PTI chairman gave a call for march on D-Chowk. He alleged that during the PTI rule, Pakistan’s relations with all friendly countries suffered and Islamabad was isolated in the international community.

He said the SCO summit, scheduled to be held later this month, was a great honour for Pakistan and agitation on this occasion would send out a negative message about the country. He said that at a time when entire world was appreciating the country’s economic development, the opposition also should acknowledge it.

The minister said that instead of marching towards Islamabad CM Gandapur should go back to Peshawar and take steps to reduce public transport fares and price of daily-use items.

Alluding to frequent terrorist attacks in KP, he called on the CM to revamp the Counter-Terrorism Department and police department to tackle the situation in a better way.

At a separate press conference, Petroleum Minister Dr Musadik Malik said it had long been the dream of the PML-N leadership to improve the lives of citizens by providing quality infrastructure, schools, colleges, universities, and hospitals.

In contrast, he alleged, the opposition leadership seeks the politics of hate and abuse.

He recalled that the PTI leadership once asked the IMF to halt an agreement with Pakistan.

He mentioned that despite concerns over the outcome of the 2018 elections, the PML-N leadership had offered the PTI government to enter into a charter of economy. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also extended cooperation to PTI on the floor of the house, he added.

The minister recalled that during the PTI government, PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shehbaz, Saad Rafique, Rana Sanaullah, and Khawaja Asif had been arrested, adding that PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardari and his sister also faced the same treatment.

He also criticised the PTI for its campaign allegedly against state institutions and deplored that military installations and memorials of the country’s heroes were targeted by the PTI workers on May 9, 2023.

With input from APP

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2024