By Muhammad Luqman
The huddle of Pakistani civil and military leaders in the capital Islamabad on Monday rejected criticism by former premier Nawaz Sharif over the nation’s handling of militant groups.
“It was very unfortunate that the opinion arising out of either misconceptions or grievances was being presented in disregard of concrete facts and realities,” according to a statement released by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s office after the meeting .
The participants of the National Security Committee “condemned the fallacious assertions.”
The meeting of National Security Committee was convened after Nawaz Sharif’s comments were published on May 12 in newspaper, Daily Dawn. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, chiefs of all the three forces and a couple of federal ministers.
“Militant organizations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai?” Dawn quoted Sharif as saying. “Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?,” Sharif said according to Dawn, referring to a stalled anti-terrorism trial over the attacks in India’s financial capital.
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has said that the interview has been misinterpreted by both Indian and Pakistani media.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while addressing a press conference after the NSC meet said that the interview of Nawaz Sharif was misinterpreted. “ Only two to three sentences out of long interview were highlighted by media. We need not to follow Indian media,” he said.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has invited his critics to give a thorough review to what is being portrayed as anti-state remarks.
Talking to media outside the accountability court, the embattled leader said that he, who took difficult decisions in the interest of Pakistan, was being called a traitor. He read the controversial remarks before the reporters and said what was wrong in it.
Those who ousted judges from their offices and break constitution of Pakistan are patriots, questioned former premier in a veiled reference to previous military dictators.
Hinting at backlash from political parties and others, the former PM deplored this was the reason the world was not ready to accept Pakistan’s narrative.
Those who ask the question are called traitors in media, Nawaz lamented, adding that a man who allowed tests of atomic bomb is called a traitor.
Talking about sacrifices in the war on terror, Nawaz said that around 50,000 Pakistanis, including armed forces, police, and civilians lost their lives.
