Islamabad, November 20 (Language) Pakistan’s acting Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has said that those involved in the unprecedented attacks on security establishments on May 9 this year should not be spared and should be tried in military courts.
In an interview with Geo News on Sunday, Kakar referred to the May 9 events in Pakistan following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in an alleged corruption case.
Kakkar said that if people attack an institution which is responsible for saving the country from anarchy, they should be tried in military courts as per law.
On the government’s appeal against the Supreme Court’s decision to quash military trials of civilians allegedly involved in the May 9 violence, Kakar said: “It is absolutely appropriate that if someone attacked a military installation, his They should be tried in military courts.” The Prime Minister also rejected the notion that his government was biased towards certain political parties, underlining that holding general elections and handing over responsibilities to the elected government was his top priority.
Reacting to concerns expressed by the two major political parties about the “transparency” of the upcoming general elections in Pakistan, Kakar on Sunday night said the “victim card” could be the “narrative” of any political party.
He said political parties generally try to attract their voters in different ways and such allegations could be their strategy.
Elections are to be held in Pakistan on 8 February next year.
As the general elections are approaching, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by former President Asif Ali Zardari have been repeatedly complaining That they are being deprived of a status. Playground before the elections.
The two mainstream parties alleged that the caretaker government was giving “preferential treatment” to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and efforts were being made to pave the way for the PML-N’s return to power.
Earlier, PPP Vice President Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had complained about his party never getting a level playing field, saying that the PPP has been continuously expressing concern about the absence of equal opportunities to prove itself before the elections. .
On the other hand, amidst reports of Imran Khan being in a minus in the elections, PTI had also accused the interim government of not giving them a level playing field.
The PTI chairman is behind bars in Adiala jail and his party leadership claims that he is not even allowed to campaign.
To clarify the situation, Kakar said in an interview with Geo News on Sunday night, “Conducting elections as soon as possible is our top priority.” “We want to hand over the responsibilities to the (incoming) elected government,” he said.
Responding to a question about the allegations leveled against his government by the two mainstream parties, the Prime Minister asked: “What have we done that the (negative) impression is being given that we are biased towards any political party? (attitude)?” He asked whether his government had “put the former Prime Minister (Imran Khan) in jail?” Kakkar further clarified that the ousted Prime Minister – who was removed from the post through a no-confidence motion in April last year – was arrested before the formation of the caretaker setup in August.
Cricketer-turned-politician Khan was arrested from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on August 5, soon after his conviction in the Toshakhana case.
However, former senator and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader Kakar was sworn in as the eighth acting Prime Minister of Pakistan on 14 August.
The Prime Minister said that Khan was legally arrested and was facing charges in court.
Kakar said it would have been wrong if Khan had been “acquitted of all charges through a royal order”.
The acting Prime Minister said that they cannot do this legally. “Think 10 times before making allegations,” he said.
“The PTI chairman is safe in jail,” he said. He said that it is his legal responsibility to ensure the safety of the jailed former Prime Minister.
Rejecting reports claiming there was a threat to his life, Kakar said, “No one has any personal enmity with the PTI chairman.”
Responding to a question, he also rejected allegations that the caretaker government was seeking “personal revenge” against 71-year-old Khan.
He said that like other political parties, PTI leaders are also busy campaigning in their respective areas ahead of the elections to be held on February 8.
Giving a strong message to the government in Kabul, Kakar asked the Afghan Taliban to decide whether they themselves would take action against terrorists who are using their soil to carry out attacks in Pakistan or hand them over to Islamabad.
According to a statistical report released by independent think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), terrorist activities in cash-strapped Pakistan have increased by 79 percent during the first half of 2023.
These figures show a surprising increase in terrorist attacks compared to the same period last year.
Pakistan blames the current government in Kabul for the recent rise in terrorism in the country and has repeatedly asked the Taliban regime to stop cross-border attacks and the use of Afghan soil against the neighboring country.
Kakar said that the inaction of the interim Taliban government on terrorist activities against Pakistan is unacceptable.
To a question about rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, Kakar said, “My main role is as a citizen of Pakistan and my allegiance lies with the state.” Stressing the need for action against terrorists, the Prime Minister said the Afghan government was aware of the bases of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the war-torn country.
Speaking about the government’s action against illegal foreigners after the November 1 deadline, Kakar said tough decisions will have to be taken to run the affairs of the state.
“All Afghans are equally important for Pakistan,” he said.
He said the government was not deporting registered Afghan refugees and only undocumented Afghan citizens were being deported.
(This report has been published as part of an auto-generated syndicated wire feed. Apart from the headline, there have been no edits to the copy by ABP Live.)
