———- Warns PTI leadership of humiliation if party’s Nov 26 decisions come to light
———- Throws down gauntlet to PTI over civil disobedience threat
———- Accuses former ruling party of “fanning provincialism”
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has criticised the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and their ongoing protests, stating that the decisions made on November 26 would lead to further humiliation once revealed.
Addressing the National Assembly on Tuesday, Asif responded to the speech of Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, questioning the inconsistencies in the claims made about the number of casualties during the protests.
“As of today, it has been 12 to 13 days since November 26, yet it remains unclear whether there were 12, 278, or even thousands of deaths. The opposition has failed to provide clarity on the true number of casualties,” he remarked.
He also pointed out that there have been no identifying documents, funerals, graves, or families presented to verify the claims of 12 deaths made by the opposition.
The defence minister further criticised the lack of evidence and the nature of the allegations, calling them a disgrace to the nation’s collective consciousness.
“Such baseless statements and rhetoric without proof are an insult to the people. There are as many statements as there are leaders, each with differing accounts and numbers of casualties,” he added.
Asif also addressed comments made by Ayub regarding PTI leader Bushra Bibi’s involvement in the events of November 26. He revealed that, according to Ayub, Bushra Bibi had stated that the PTI leadership fled the scene, leaving their supporters behind.
“The opposition has now resorted to playing the card of regionalism,” the defence minister said.
He reminded them of the historical responsibility of former leader General Ayub Khan, who played a significant role in the creation of Bangladesh. “Now, his relatives are playing the regional card,” he stated.
Emphasising national unity, the defence minister said that all ethnic groups, including Punjabis, Sindhis, Baloch, and Pashtuns, have equal rights in Pakistan.
He criticised attempts to create divisions based on ethnicity and rejected the notion of pitting Pashtuns against others. “If government officials are brought in from other regions, no one raises concerns about their ethnic background,” he said.
Asif also remarked on the ongoing violence in Parachinar, where sectarian clashes have led to fatalities. He stated that it is the responsibility of the provincial government to maintain peace and protect the rights of its people. “Instead of addressing the issues in their province, the PTI leadership chose to march on Islamabad,” he added.
Regarding the PTI’s repeated attempts to seize power, Asif mentioned that their third attempt had failed, just as the previous two had. He referred to the night when the PTI leader, Imran Khan, had opened the jail doors, but his wife had reportedly rejected the idea of holding a protest at Sangjani.
“After fleeing from the scene, they abandoned their workers. If we watch the footage from that day, we will see who fired the shots, who fled, and who was making threats,” he said.
The defence minister further criticised PTI’s call for civil disobedience, pointing out that similar calls in the past had failed to gain traction.
“Ten years ago, they called for civil disobedience, urging people not to pay their bills or taxes. No one responded to their call, and their attempt failed,” he remarked. He also challenged the opposition, saying that no one would refuse to pay their bills, and Pakistanis living abroad would continue to send remittances.
He asserted that the opposition’s strategy of playing the regionalism card and trying to sow division within the country would ultimately fail. “Pakistan’s unity and federalism must be respected. Their attempts to undermine this unity are an acknowledgement of their defeat,” he said. –Agencies
