— PML-N’s minister accuses Imran for supporting Qadiani community
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday lambasted the coalition government — particularly the PML-N — accusing it for “misusing religion of Islam to instil and spread hatred” against party chief and former prime minister Imran Khan.
“PML-N is running an organised and planned campaign to make Imran Khan controversial [for the people],” former religious affairs minister Noorul Haq Qadri said at a press conference.
Flanked by fellow PTI leaders Asad Qaiser and Iftikhar Durrani, Qadri said: “When I joined Imran Khan, it was not just for his political ideology but also his religious ideology,” he said, recalling that the policies formed during the PTI government’s tenure were proof of his love and respect toward the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Qadri went on to say that the “war being waged by the government was very dangerous as it would create divisions and violence”. “These are the people who want to spread hatred and chaos in the land,” he added.
His comments came hours after PML-N leader and federal minister Mian Javed Latif, in a press conference, accused the PTI chief of “attacking the basic principles of Islam” and “supporting” the Ahmediyya community during his tenure.
“When Imran made the Naya Pakistan, units of Qadianis became active in Karachi […] Did Imran not give interviews to the foreign media in which he said that Qadianis will be given religious freedom,” Latif argued.
During the presser, Javed Latif accused the PTI chief of pushing the country towards “secularism and away from the religion”.
“Imran Khan wants to create anarchy in the country as he is using religion for his politics,” Latif said. He also showed a few short video clips of Imran Khan to make his point.
The minister said there could be a strong public reaction if Imran Khan’s tactics are not checked, warning there would be bloodshed in the country if Imran Khan went ahead with his politics. “We respect the state institutions and there should not be double standards for political parties.”
Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser said that Latif’s statements were aimed at instigating religious hatred among the people. “This is condemnable.”
Imran, he said, was currently at the height of his popularity. “PTI is the only party which signifies unity today because it has members from all religious sects and cultures,” he said.
“Today, we are here to tell you that when we were in the government, and even today, you have seen our work for upholding Islam and the Prophet (PBUH),” Qaiser added.
Meanwhile, former federal minister Iftikhar Durrani said that the government was violating the National Action Plan and Constitution by spreading “religious hatred”.
“Today, the incumbent government is complicit in this crime through Javed Latif. I seriously condemn it. The foundation of the PML-N is based on dictatorship […] they have never fought any battle through democracy.
“Whenever their political opponents become powerful, they always indulge in personal attacks. A similar attack was done today and it was an escalation,” Durrani pointed out.
He recalled that PML-N had always levelled personal attacks at Imran. “And this shows that the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Party) has lost.”
The PTI leader also castigated the chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) for not stopping television channels from airing Latif’s press conference.
“I request all the channels that aired this presser: a very dangerous and heinous game is being played and PML-N has several people to play it. Latif is one of them.”
Furthermore, Durrani told the PML-N that he handled the media of PTI and warned that “if I start doing these things, you won’t be able to leave your houses”.
“But this is not what we have been taught. We have been taught to fight you on political grounds. We have not been taught to make personal attacks,” he added.
