PDM failed to show their power: Sh Rashid

ISLAMABAD   –  Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Tuesday termed the protest rally of opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in front of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as their “flopped political show” and said that the government would welcome the opposition’s protest long march taking it as their last political card.

Addressing a news conference at the Ministry of Interior soon after the protest rally of opposition is the Red Zone of the capital, the interior minister criticised the PDM for doing politics on trivial and said that the alliance of 11 opposition parties failed to gather a sizeable number of people. 

“What direction you want to give to the nation,” he said while blaming the opposition that they were doing this only to save their “loot, plunder, corruption and dishonesty.” 

He went on to say that given their flopped power show in front of the ECP, the government would welcome their protest long march whose date has yet to be announced by PDM.

“If you want to hold march, do it today instead of tomorrow,” the minister said adding that he would offer the opposition Kashmiri Chai (tea) and also Halwa (sweets) to JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. 

He said that the protest was devoid of political workers as they had not welcomed the protest call of JUI-F chief. “Maulana’s seminaries have more students even than the people that made their way to the protest rally,” he said adding that even any seminary in Islamabad would have more students than this. “They (opposition) have tried a make mountain out of a molehill.” 

Sheikh Rashid said that the opposition’s political show was so poor that they even could not get shutdown of the Metro Bus Service that plied between Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

He castigated Maulana Fazl for his announced anti-Israel rally and said that the time of their (opposition) stories that used to tell the masses has ended. “You have showed your political muscles practically and exposed yourself before (Prime Minister) Imran Khan,” he said.

He also said that the government did not place a single container or even the police did not create hurdles in the way of protestors. Despite high alert in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, they had been given free hand, and none of the vehicle of protestors was stopped and even then, they failed to hold a successful show, he also remarked.  

Responding to the speech of opposition Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leader (PkMAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai in the protest, Sheikh Rashid said that such speeches could take the political situation out of control. He said that the opposition allies had cheated Maulana in the past and now as well. He further said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has gone to Umerkot in Sindh through a chartered flight to celebrate victory of his party’s candidate in the by-poll leaving JUI-F chief in the lurch at the protest venue. 

The Minister for Interior said that the opposition used un-parliamentary language in the rally ignoring the facts that it was PM Imran Khan who had given them permission to come in the Red Zone.

The interior minister said that the protest rally was actually “a Friday bazaar of power-hungry people.” He asked PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz to read out Broadsheet case completely. “A new Pandora’s box had opened and Panama II (scandal) is going to open against you.” He said that Maryam would invite creating political problems for her if she continued to make comments on Broadsheet case without studying it. He reiterated his stance that that PM Imran Khan’s party had given details of 40,000 transactions to the ECP in foreign funding case and opposition PPP and PML-N should give details of at least 40 transactions to the commission.

He said that as many 1800 cameras had been installed under Islamabad Safe City Project and 600 more would be added before the long march if the ministry got funding.

He appreciated the law enforcement agencies including Rangers, FC, and Islamabad Police and local admirations of twin cities to ensure that the protest remained peaceful in the Red Zone. 

Responding to questions, the minister said that anyone who will use un-parliamentary and unethical language against the Pakistan Army would be taken to task. It is regretful that those institutions which fight day and night for the protection of the country are criticized, he added. 

Replying to another question, he said that the Ministry of Interior has summoned a meeting on missing persons for tomorrow.  

He said that then military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf had made a mistake by giving a deal under NRO to politicians but PM Imran Khan will not repeat this mistake. “PM Imran Khan can take any big decision but he will not make a mistake like Musharraf,” he said adding that military ruler had been advised at that time not to do so.  

Sheikh Rashid requested ECP and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja that it would be welcoming if the commission would decide simultaneously on foreign funding case of all three parties—PTI, PML-N and PPP. He said that ECP should give details who gave how much evidence in this case.

Earlier the day, the minister paid a visit to a control room of the interior ministry to monitor the law and order situation in the federal capital. He also visited the ECP and reviewed the security arrangements there.

Rashid also said after Tuesday’s failed show of PDM, the government also welcomes their long march that could end opposition’s power-driven campaign. The Minister congratulated the Police, Rangers and law enforcement institutions for maintaining law and order situation without creating hurdles in the way of PDM protest. He also thanked the Ulemas and Madrassa students from Islamabad who did not participate in PDM’s protest. Commenting on Broadsheet matter, he said Maryam Nawaz should read it carefully as it will prove another Panama case for her family.