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ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid on Sunday heavily criticized Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz for bashing the state institutions, including the chief of the premier intelligence agency.
“It was “foolish” to call out the chief of an institution the way Maryam Nawaz did. The country’s armed forces shouldn’t be discussed in public places,” the federal minister said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.
Referring to the often confrontational nature of the statements Maryam makes, Rashid said that PML-N vice president was “digging her own grave”. He warned Maryam that dragging the army into a debate will “result in a political smackdown similar to what occurs in a dhobi ghaat” (when clothes are beaten with sticks while washing them).
Rashid’s remarks came a day after the Opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement held a large public rally in Faisalabad’s Dhobi Ghaat ground, where Maryam spoke at length in criticism of the current regime.
The minister also said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was “going nowhere” and will complete his five-year term. “The misunderstanding that Imran will be ousted should be cleared as he was here to stay,” he added.
“The opposition has been saying since December last year that Imran is going to lose power, but it should clear any misunderstanding that it has about Imran Khan,” Rashid said, adding that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government will complete its term.
According to Rashid, “Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s departure to London [for medical treatment] was planned.” He said that Nawaz was shedding “crocodile tears” while sitting in London.
Speaking about the hike in petrol prices, Rashid said there was no doubt that Pakistan had a high inflation rate but the government was facing these challenges with strong resolve.
