By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Heated words were exchanged between the government and the opposition on Sunday over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) handling of the current Kashmir policy, with the opposition questioning whether the government had “struck a deal” over the disputed territory.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal, criticised the incumbent government and said that there have been “weak and strong” governments, but never before has India attempted to change the status of Kashmir.
“Why did this happen in Imran Niazi’s [tenure]? Does the ‘new Pakistan’ seem weak to India or has the leadership struck a deal over Kashmir?” Iqbal asked.
Iqbal lambasted the PTI earlier during a press conference for its governance and added that the opposition would introduce a plan on September 20 to remove the government.
In regard to the recent motorway incident, the PML-N leader added that the government was “raising its finger” at the people and not the culprits. “The government allowed the suspects to flee after leaking their identities,” Iqbal said, adding that the primary suspect was at large as a result of their incompetence.
He said that the government only conducts meetings to exact revenge, adding that the people were denouncing the Lahore capital city police officer’s (CCPO) statement, but PM Imran had yet to even tweeted about it.
Iqbal also spoke about the high turnover rate in government positions under the PTI government.
“Even a school teacher is not changed in the frequency or manner that [the Punjab government] has transferred inspector generals,” he said.
“Officers holding important administrative positions are being transferred like Naib Qasids,” Iqbal added, remarking that Buzdar was as inadequate as Imran.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill responded to aforesaid statements on Kashmir, arguing that the PML-N had always had “dealings with India at the expense of Kashmir”.
“Why would India need to work up a nerve to respond to those who did not even appoint a foreign minister to counter India’s lobbying?” he asked.
Meanwhile, PML-N senior leader Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday said opposition parties will sit together on September 20 and deliberate on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) inability to deal with the issues.
Talking to newsmen here, Ahsan Iqbal said the government’s sympathy should always be with the victim and not with the culprit. “Shehbaz Sharif completed the Punjab Forensic Laboratory within two years and it is just because of this lab they have identified the culprits involved in the gang-rape incident,” he further said.
“It was Punjab government’s professional negligence that culprits have managed to escape as their identities were leaked and revealed,” Ahsan Iqbal said while throwing light on the happenings following the motorway gang-rape incident.
He alleged that then opposition parties politicized the Zainab rape and murder issue in Kasur but the PML-N is showing responsibility and is not trying to give political colour to the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway gang-rape incident.
Ahsan Iqbal said the government has not provided any relief to the people. “Imran Khan has not yet reacted to the CCPO Lahore’s inappropriate statement blaming the victim.
However, Prime Minister Imran Khan holds meetings every day on how to launch more cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif,” he further added.
Ahsan Iqbal said the government always does politics on every issue. “You people disgrace each and every mother and sister of the nation and you feel not guilty on it,” the PML-N leader said.
He said each person who has played his role in bringing Imran Khan to power is the nation’s culprit.
The PML-N leader said the government has not provided on-time medical treatment to Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz Sharif. He said Imran khan knew nothing but revenge and hatred.
