Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that the current Army Chief General Asim Munir is “not willing” to sit with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in a room and interfere in the democratic processes of the country. The minister made these remarks in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera English on Sunday and maintained that elections will take place after the incumbent government completes its constitutional tenure.
“There is a Constitution, there is a law, that will, of course, take its own course and the elections will happen after we complete the constitutional tenure that is there in the law of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and election law 2017,” she added. Talking about former premier Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9, she said that there was “no objective” to be achieved by arresting him.
“Mr Imran Khan was not arrested by the government. It was the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), according to the law, where he is being investigated for a case of corruption,” she said. When asked if the internet and social media blackout in the country sounds like martial law, Marriyum said, “What do you expect when a party leader is inciting violence on [the] streets”. “There were different installations where he had placed people… the entire party leadership was monitoring how many people have reached Jinnah House [the residence of Lahore Corps Commander]”, she added. The minister said what can one expect from a government that has to save the people. She maintained that the ruling coalition tackled the entire situation that unfolded following the PTI chief’s arrest “prudently” and maturely”.
Marriyum stated there was no “miscalculation” on the government or the security agencies’ behalf, adding that there was force present but “we chose not to use it and dealt with the situation very maturely”.
She said that the PTI chairman is not attending to his corruption cases and informed that the prominent cases against him are that of foreign funding, Al-Qadir Trust, Toshakhana and Tyrian White case.
Responding to a question about the economic situation, the information minister said Pakistan is in “safe hands”.
Talking about the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) protest outside the Supreme Court today, she said that “Our workers will lodge our protest but will not set the building on fire,” adding that the protest will be peaceful against the constitutional violations taking place in the country.
Meanwhile, The military’s top brass vowed Monday to try protesters and their abettors under relevant laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act, after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters stormed military installations on May 9, which the army dubbed as “Black Day”.
The decision came during a Special Corps Commanders Conference (CCC) held at the General Headquarters with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir in the chair, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Rela-tions (ISPR).
The violent protests were triggered soon after PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested and sent to jail in the Al-Qadir Trust case, but after walking free on bail, the party chief insisted his workers did not instigate violence and distanced the PTI from them.
Following the arrest of Khan, who has criticised the military since his ouster in April last year, the PTI workers raised the stakes and attacked an entrance gate of the GHQ among other installations of the armed forces.
“The forum expressed [a] firm resolve that those involved in these heinous crimes against the military installations and personal/ equipment will be brought to justice through trials under relevant laws of Pakistan including Pakistan Army Act and Official Secret Act,” the statement mentioned.
The military’s top brass also resolved that restraint will no longer be exercised against perpetrators, spoilers, and viola-tors who attack military installations and setups under any circumstances. –Agencies
