PTI chief's arrest is apolitical for 'selling state gifts': Marriyum Aurangzeb
Pakistan
The information minister says all the legal requirements were fulfilled in the Toshakhana case
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb has defended the arrest of the PTI chairman in the Toshakhana case on Saturday.
Talking to the British media house on Sunday, the minister said that the PTI chairman sold state gifts and “his arrest is not political.”
Marriyum said that all the legal requirements were fulfilled in the case. The former prime minister sold state gifts, misused his powers, he failed to present evidence in the court. Therefore, his arrest has nothing to do with politics, she added.
She said that Nawaz Sharif and PTI chairman cannot be compared. Nawaz Sharif answered all the allegations levelled against him. “Courts are there; everyone has the right to answer the allegations,” she maintained.
She also justified actions being taken against the PTI workers for May 9 carnage.
“They targeted sensitive installations and action is being taken against those involved in the May 9 attacks as per the law,” she continued.
Marriyum said the PTI chairman did not appear in court to defend himself. But Nawaz Sharif appeared 150 times before the NAB. “You cannot avoid cases by threatening the law. You cannot keep the people in the dark all the time,” she asserted.
The federal minister said that PTI workers attacked police in Zaman Park. Should those who attacked government properties, hospitals and schools be spared, she questioned?
She alleged that the PTI chairman was the mastermind of the May 9 attacks.
Regarding economic turmoil, she claimed that the former premier blamed his cabinet for the crisis.
She said that she also received state gifts. “I deposited the gifts in the Toshakhana, but the PTI chairman was unable to answer the questions in the court,” she quipped.
The information minister said that the PTI chief jailed political opponents and tortured media workers during his reign.
“It was for the first time in the history of the country that a political party used petrol bombs. Peaceful protest is the democratic right of every political party and worker,” she concluded.
