Pressure mounts on govt to try Ayaz under Article 6

Interior Minister Ijaz Ahmed Shah on Saturday said that the federal government has received several petitions seeking charges under Article 6 of the Constitution against former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Article 6 defines the crime of high treason. Addressing a ceremony in Nankana Sahib, Shah said the petitions, received in Islamabad and Lahore, have been sent for legal review. Shah’s statement comes a day after Information Minister Shibli Faraz hinted at legal action against the PML-N leader over his controversial claims regarding the circumstances surrounding the release of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. “Ayaz Sadiq has passed a very wrong statement about Indian pilot Abhinandan and the army chief,” Shah said. Slamming the opposition party, the interior minister said he dismissed the allegations levelled against the Pakistan Army “from abroad”, and swore that all this was an attempt to secure the opposition’s looted wealth. Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Shibli Faraz on Saturday asked members and workers of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) whether they were loyal to the country or to a family. In a tweet, he said time had come to raise voice for the motherland and to take a patriotic decision. It was indispensable to create Muslim League Pakistan, he added. On the other hand, Member Punjab Assembly (MPA), Jahangir Khanzada from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Saturday strongly criticised his party’s leader Ayaz Sadiq’s anti-state remarks, made in the Parliament about release of captured Indian pilot. “Issues of national security should not be dragged into politics by anyone; neither by the opposition, nor the government, the MPA said while highlighting sacrifices of armed forces in fight against terrorism. He said “Ayaz Sadiq should not have talked in such a manner while addressing in the Parliament.” Talking to the media in Shadi Khan, Hazro, he said the nation always stood with the armed forces and would continue to do so in future. “220 million Pakistanis adore their armed forces and country.” “Our armed forces are defending the motherland bravely and we are indebted to soldiers for their supreme sacrifices for the country,” he remarked. Also, two other PML-N MPAs – Nishat Daha and Younas Ansari – have said that their heads hang in shame because of MNA Ayaz Sadiq’s controversial statement. Speaking at a press conference in Multan, PML-N MPA Nishat Daha said, “I am deeply saddened by the statement made by Ayaz Sadiq, my head hangs in shame on the statement of the former Speaker”. He said that if the leadership wants to please India, it should move there. He further said that today, as a PML-N member, I am ashamed. The entire nation was hurt by the statements of Nawaz Sharif and Ayaz Sadiq, what they are doing is not good for the country, he said. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Younas Ansari said, “Our family has been in politics for 35 years but I am ashamed at what is happening in the National Assembly.” Ayaz Sadiq should be remorseful at his statement. The PML-N MPA said that Ayaz Sadiq was speaking on behalf of the enemies. Also, former Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and former MNA of PML-N Sardar Mansab Dogar has announced to quit the party. Announcing his resignation from the party, the former MNA said that he cannot support PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s anti-national narrative. On Saturday, I am sacrificing my 25-year relationship with PML-N, he said. Dogar said that he was deeply saddened by the statement of Ayaz Sadiq targeting Pakistan Army and its accomplishment. He said that Ayaz Sadiq was undeservingly appointed the Speaker by buttering up Nawaz Sharif. The PML-N may be taking on the government, but the party’s Balochistan chapter is in turmoil after the party decided not to invite former chief minister Sanaullah Zehri to the October 25 gathering of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in Quetta. According to sources, the PML-N’s central leadership had decided not to invite Sanaullah Zehri to the PDM gathering in Quetta, which did not go down well with its leaders in the province. Sources also alleged that the president of PML-N’s Balochistan chapter, retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch, had also expressed his reservations over the hardline stance adopted by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. They have stated that the PML-N’s provincial leaders will announce their future course of action soon. Abdul Qadir Baloch later decided to resign from the party. The party’s provincial president took the decision after PML-N’s controversial decision not to invite former Balochistan chief minister Sanaullah Zehri to the recently held Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally in Quetta.