Opposition demands explanation over PM Imran's statement in Iran
This is not funny anymore, you cannot play with the destiny of this country: Hina Rabbani Khar
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The opposition on Tuesday demanded an explanation in the National Assembly (NA) over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement during his recent tour to Iran.
On the second day of his maiden Iran trip, PM Imran addressed a joint press conference with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran following bilateral talks and acknowledged that Tehran had suffered terrorism from groups operating from within Pakistan.
But the premier’s bold statement stirred controversy back home with certain people questioning the wisdom behind publicly admitting the presence of anti-Iran groups on Pakistani soil.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker and former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar censured the cricket-turned-politician for his statements.
“Our prime minister stood beside the Iranian president and said that our soil was being used for terrorist activities. “This is not funny anymore, you cannot play with the destiny of this country ” Khar said in National Assembly.
She also slammed the premier for suggesting that incumbent premier and rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narendra Modi’s reelection would strengthen chances of a peaceful resolution of Kashmir. “He has mainstreamed massacres in India. He has the blood of innocent Kashmiris on his hands. But our prime minister believes he [Modi] will solve the Kashmir issue”, she added.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member National Assembly (MNA) Khurram Dastagir Khan said while addressing the session that Imran Khan’s statement can take Pakistan on the back foot.
He termed Imran Khan’s comment ‘dangerous’ and maintained that the premier gave a similar statement in an interview to the New York Times. “I demand prime minister to give explanation to the House over his remarks. I am not labelling Imran Khan as traitor or Modi’s friend,” he said.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA and Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari affirmed that banned outfits from both sides of the border must be eliminated in order to wipe out terrorism.
“Discussions were held to launch operation against terrorism for the first time between Pakistan and Iran,” she stressed.
Opposition protest mars NA session
The NA session was marred by the protest of the opposition parties who tore copies of the agenda. During the speech of PTI leader Murad Saeed, the opposition chanted ‘no baby no’ slogans and surrounded the dais of the speaker.
The PTI MNA said that opposition doesn’t have courage to listen to him as he is unveiling the truth. He criticized Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and alleged him of fighting India’s case.
Bilawal, his father Asif Ali Zardari and his paternal aunt Faryal Talpur are facing trial in fake accounts case, he added.
Murad Saeed said opposition parties are making hue and cry against the accountability process. He said under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the country’s image has improved significantly and it has come out of isolation.
The MNA further said that minor girl Nashwa lost her life due to wrong injection but no action has been taken so far.
