ISLAMABAD: Former federal minister and PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday dubbed the “plots and machinations” to cause a rift between PTI Chairman Imran Khan and the Army “ridiculous and absurd”, reiterating that the former PM had always worked for the prosperity of the country.
“The PTI chief has time and again categorically declared that he does not have a penny abroad and the person who has all the interests in Pakistan would always want the country’s army to strengthen,” Fawad Ch said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad here. The PTI stalwart pointed out that Pakistan’s progress and integrity were hinged on its army, saying that this is one point stance and agenda of the PTI chairman.
“The politics of Imran Khan revolves around the country and its public and army is an integral part of the people.” Hence, Fawad Ch went on to say that all efforts to create a divide between Imran Khan and Army were “absurd”. “And the way it has been executed is very disappointing,” the former minister said, adding that a new era of atrocities and barbarism had been launched in Pakistan.
The PTI leader’s talks came in response to the government’s allegations that Imran and his party members were spreading hatred against the country’s institutions.
Earlier this week, Shahbaz Gill was also arrested on charges of sedition and inciting the public against state institutions.
Fawad Ch regretted that women and children are being picked up, referring to the arrest of the wife of Gill’s driver.
“We saw the director news of ARY News was picked up late at night from his house. He has young children who are now in trauma,” Fawad Ch said, adding they are forcing [people] to accept their government.
“But this can’t happen because the people will only accept those who they elect, not those who are imposed,” he added.
‘Astroturf at Lahore’s Hockey Ground not damaged’
Talking about PTI’s upcoming rally at Lahore’s Hockey Ground, Fawad Ch declared that the AstroTurf there was not being scrapped.
Earlier in the day, reports had been circulating that the AstroTurf in the stadium was being ripped apart for the party’s gathering on August 13, with a number of people criticising the move.
In his media talk, the PTI leader said that the party had taken “full responsibility” to ensure that any part of the stadium was not damaged, including the AstroTurf, adding that replacing it was already a part of the government’s plan.
“They had wrecked it during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure and it has to be replaced anyway,” he said. “So we consulted with the Punjab government and reached the conclusion that a new astroturf will be laid in the ground.”
Fawad Ch went on that the PTI was incurring the expenses of the August 13 rally, confident that the gathering will show the love the people of Lahore had for the party and Imran.
