ISLAMABAD: A heated exchange occurred in the National Assembly on Monday as Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of creating a fake narrative regarding the number of casualties during recent protests.
While speaking on the floor of the House, Tarar, representing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), said the PTI leaders were inconsistent with their claims, giving varying statistics about the alleged “dead bodies.”
Tarar’s Criticism
- “Your 10 leaders are giving 10 different numbers about the casualties,” he stated, questioning the credibility of PTI’s claims.
- He argued that if PTI’s allegations of protester killings were true, their leaders would have presented a unified figure.
- Tarar accused PTI of “building a fake narrative in the name of corpses” for political gain.
On Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Tarar blamed a former PTI aviation minister’s “irresponsible statement” for the European flight ban. He credited the current government for restoring the national carrier’s operations.
Tarar also touched on law and order, emphasizing that maintaining security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is the provincial government’s responsibility, but assured federal support if needed. He criticized the KP Chief Minister for prioritizing political marches over resolving issues like the unrest in Kurram.
PTI’s Response
PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat rejected Tarar’s claims, accusing him of “lying” on the House floor. Marwat countered:
- “You removed our workers’ dead bodies, and many workers are still missing.”
- He challenged Tarar to take the matter to court if PTI’s list of casualties was fake.
PTI Parliamentary Leader Zartaj Gul reiterated the party’s demand for a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 and November 26 incidents. She accused the government of:
- Firing live bullets on peaceful protestors.
- Creating hurdles in the burial of PTI workers who allegedly died on November 26.
- Evoking the Model Town tragedy, where the PMLN was similarly accused of denying the incident initially.
Gul further criticized the government for dismissing PTI’s claims, advising them to abandon their “fake narrative” on the May 9 incidents.
Judicial Commission Demand
Senior PTI leader Sardar Latif Khosa also demanded a judicial commission to investigate both the May 9 and November 26 events. Khosa claimed:
- The commission would expose the culprits responsible for the violence.
- It was a “tragedy” that the leader of a party winning 180 seats (Imran Khan) remains imprisoned, while someone winning 17 seats has been made prime minister.
Khosa also criticized the passage of the 26th constitutional amendment, alleging it was achieved through “Lotacracy” (floor crossing).
Opposition Leader’s Allegations
PTI Opposition Leader Omar Ayub Khan accused the government of intentionally slowing down internet services to limit access to social media content in favor of Imran Khan. He warned that no investor would bring capital into the country without the rule of law and political stability.
Summary
The session saw fiery speeches, with the government and opposition trading accusations over political violence, media narratives, and governance failures. PTI leaders maintained their demand for an independent judicial inquiry, while the government dismissed PTI’s claims as politically motivated and inconsistent.
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