KARACHI: Lashing out at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative, Asad Umar has stated that the former premier has “a problem with institutions, not just people”.
Addressing a press conference along with Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi, he said: “Mian sahib, your threats won’t work now. The time for questions has passed, and now you have to answer.”
The federal minister, criticising Nawaz Sharif, said that “India’s narrative will not sell any more. If you are truly brave, why couldn’t you speak about [Indian spy] Kulbhushan Jadhav […] Why don’t you lash out at India?”
Umar said that Nawaz had started talking about democracy after he “saw failure” everywhere else. The federal minister asked Nawaz Sharif why he sent his envoys for meetings, adding that Shahbaz Sharif and other PML-N leaders were asking for an NRO.
Slamming Nawaz for directing questions at certain powerful individuals in his address at the Gujranwala jalsa, Umar said: “You [Nawaz] are an indicted criminal, you do not get to ask questions.”
He asked as to why Nawaz did not call for supremacy of law when he came to power using General Jillani and ruled Punjab using General Ziaul Haq.
He termed the opposition’s public gathering under the banner of PDM as a criminal act and grave violation of coronavirus SOPs.
Talking about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speech to the Tiger Force where he mentioned Maryam Nawaz, Asad Umar said: “Nani [grandmother] is a relationship of immense respect; has the prime minister said anything wrong?”
The federal minister also welcomed the opposition leaders to Karachi.
Taking over the presser, Ali Zaidi said that a “new Imran Khan” has now emerged, after the opposition’s recent tactics. The federal minister urged the opposition parties to not drag institutions into their political speeches.
“The Opposition is running a ‘save our corruption campaign’,” Ali Zaidi said, adding: “We will bring the law into action and bring back Nawaz Sharif.” – TLTP