Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and former Speaker National Assembly, has made some irresponsible statements while delivering a speech in the assembly. Sadiq alleged that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said that “if we do not release Abhinandan, India may attack Pakistan”.
Indian media took Sadiq’s statement and celebrated it. Times Now, India’s TV channel, wrote on their website “’Pair kaanp rahe the, paseene…’: Pak leader describes FM Qureshi’s condition when Wg Cdr Abhinandan was held ”.
I’d really start questioning myself if the Indian media & Hindutva brigade finds my narrative appealing.
But shame is a thing unknown in our power circles. https://t.co/sYxlWgfjLI
— Hussain Nadim (@HNadim87) October 28, 2020
“I remember Shah Mahmood Qureshi was in the meeting in which Imran Khan had refused to attend and Chief of Army Staff General Bajwa came into the room, his legs were shaking and he was. Foreign Minister said for God’s sake let Abhinandan go, India’s about to attack Pakistan at 9 pm,” Mr Sadiq recounted the events of the meeting.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill has slammed Sadiq for issuing anti-Pakistan statements.
ایاز صادق نے کل سیاسی مخالفت میں جو گھٹیا حرکت کی اس سے پورے پاکستان کو پتہ چل جانا چاہئیے کہ ن لیگ اپنی کرپشن کے ٹکے بچانے کے لئیے سیکورٹی رسک بن چکی۔اور غداری کیا ہوتی؟کچھ لوگ کہتے ہیں آج کل غداری کے سرٹیفیکیٹ بٹ رہے ہیں۔کیا ملکی سلامتی پر پہلے کبھی ایسے حملے ہوئے-یہ غداری ہے
— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) October 29, 2020
Notably, on 26 Feb, 2019 Indian planes had crossed the Line of Control and struck deep inside the Pakistani territory at Balakot (near Abbottabad, in the Pakistani province of Khyher Pakthunkhwa) prompting a counter-strike from Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Feb, 27. In the ensuing dogfight India lost two planes (a Mig-21 and an advanced Russian built SU-30) and subsequently Pakistan had closed its airspace to Indian planes for several weeks.
Indian Pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan, captured by the Pakistani forces, was released as a goodwill gesture by Pakistan.
Read More: Nawaz Sharif’s anti-Pakistan interview and its cost: A snake in the grass?
However, in a bid to put pressure on the country’s establishment, the PML-N leader has apparently cooked up a story, said an official who spoke with GVS on the condition of anonymity.
https://twitter.com/schaheid/status/1321701436909096960?s=20
Sources told GVS that the former ruling party is not only targeting the establishment but also running its narratives on the lines created by the Indian media and deep state.
Interestingly, BS Dhanoa, former Indian Air Chief Marshal, has confessed that “the main pressure on Pakistan was diplomatic and political”.
FP dismisses Sadiq’s statement
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday dismissed PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq’s statement, regretting that “responsible people are making irresponsible statements.”
Qureshi said he had not expected the former National Assembly speaker (Sadiq) to say that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was let go by Pakistan under pressure, adding that the comments made by him were “contrary to the truth”.
He said the government had taken all parliamentary leaders into confidence regarding the intelligence reports it had received, but the captured Indian pilot was not mentioned in that meeting. “Highly irresponsible statements are being issued for political gains; responsible people are talking irresponsibly, which is surprising,” the foreign minister said.
Nawaz’s anti-Pakistan statements
Two years ago, ousted Prime Minister and former head of the PML-N, Nawaz Sharif, also made some ‘irresponsible’ and ‘controversial’ remarks on Mumbai attacks. In an exclusive interview to daily Dawn’s Cyril Almeida that appeared on 12th May, 2018 Nawaz Sharif passed these statements. Sharif was alluding to the 2008 Mumbai attacks when more than 150 people were killed and more than 300 were wounded. Indian media and authorities had immediately blamed Pakistan for the brutal attack.
Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned terrorist organization, was held responsible for a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. Pakistan agreed to cooperate with India in order to reach a logical conclusion of the case.
Moreover, while commenting on the foreign policy of Pakistan the former premier took a tough stance and expressed his anger and displeasure. “We have isolated ourselves. Despite giving sacrifices, our narrative is not being accepted. Afghanistan’s narrative is being accepted, but ours is not. We must look into it,” he said.
Read More: Mumbai attack comments: What future holds for Nawaz Sharif after his Anti-Pakistan statements
Nawaz Sharif was referring to the recent media campaigns led by Indian and Western media against Pakistan to isolate it. Pakistan has been under the constant pressure of the United States to follow the policy of ‘do more’ in Afghanistan.
Sharif got widespread media coverage in India after his interview on the Mumbai attacks.