ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has defended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his government, while criticizing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its chairman Imran Khan for ‘violent protests’ following the arrest of Imran Khan on corruption charges.
In a TV interview last night, Marriyum Aurangzeb highlighted government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining law and order in the country while ruling out imposition of Martial Law.
She stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would continue as head of state as Parliament supports him. She also acknowledged the right of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to stage a protest, stating that political parties would present their views outside the Supreme Court premises.
The federal minister expressed disappointment that Imran Khan, who was apprehended by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) based on a warrant, and had been granted physical remand in a Rs 60 billion corruption case, was released. The accused had been granted interim bail not only in the mega corruption case but also in all other pending cases simultaneously, which was unprecedented in the country’s legal history.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had declared the arrest of Imran Khan from inside the premises of Islamabad High Court as illegal.
Marriyum Aurangez condemned the violent actions of PTI workers after Imran Khan’s arrest, including the destruction of public and private property, attacks on security departments, and burning of schools, hospitals, and livestock. She claimed that Imran Khan had orchestrated these events as part of a nefarious plan to harm the country’s stability. Aurangez pledged to bring those involved in these subversive activities to justice.
