Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, strongly criticized the politics of PTI founder Imran Khan, accusing it of being based on falsehoods and hypocrisy. Speaking to the media on Saturday after attending a defamation case filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against the PTI founder in 2017, Tarar condemned the PTI founder’s baseless allegations, specifically the claim that PM Shehbaz Sharif had offered him Rs 10 billion to withdraw from the Panama Papers case.
Tarar emphasized that the accusations made in 2017 were thoroughly addressed in court and debunked, underlining that these fabricated allegations had harmed the reputation of PM Shehbaz Sharif and fueled a false propaganda campaign. This propaganda, he said, was widely circulated through newspapers and television programs, contributing to the spread of misinformation.
The minister also brought up a recent case involving a PTI supporter living abroad, who had made false claims about the Pakistani military and other institutions. These accusations were later proven untrue in a London court, resulting in the individual facing legal consequences, including damages and court expenses.
Tarar also referenced a recent article by journalist Owen Bennett-Jones in The Economist, which criticized the PTI founder’s decision-making during his tenure. The article argued that decisions made by PTI’s leadership were not based on competence or the country’s larger interests, but rather on personal biases. Tarar further revealed that the PTI founder’s wife had a significant influence on government decisions, often guiding policy on matters from political appointments to foreign relations, based on superstition rather than expert advice.
Referring again to The Economist, Tarar pointed out how PTI’s leadership failed to consult experts in critical areas like the economy, domestic policy, and national development. He also reflected on PTI’s 2017 sit-ins, where numerous false accusations were made, especially against PM Shehbaz Sharif. These allegations, he noted, were repeated in public speeches at various rallies, including those at the Parade Ground, Shaukat Khanum ceremony in Peshawar, and Karachi airport.
Tarar criticized the PTI leadership for allowing baseless narratives to influence their decision-making and governance, instead of adhering to sound principles. He questioned the nature of the “spirituality” that allegedly guided the PTI founder’s decisions, wondering what kind of spirituality would shape such critical decisions for the country’s future.
In his remarks on the governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tarar questioned the PTI government’s record on major development projects in the province. He called for transparency in addressing the real issues facing the people of the province.
On security matters, Tarar praised Pakistan’s military for successfully thwarting a terrorist attack at Wana Cadet College, where 550 students were rescued, preventing a tragedy similar to the 2014 APS Peshawar attack. He commended the Pakistani Army and security forces for their role in foiling a conspiracy involving the Jaffar Express and capturing those behind the suicide bombing at Islamabad’s Judicial Complex. Tarar assured the public that Pakistan’s security was in capable hands and that terrorists were increasingly targeting softer, more vulnerable targets due to the difficulty in breaching more secure locations.
In a positive note, the minister thanked the Sri Lankan government, its cricket team, and the High Commissioner for their collaboration and praised Pakistan’s cricket team for their recent strong performance against Sri Lanka. Tarar also expressed gratitude to the Zimbabwean cricket team for their participation in the triangular series and expressed confidence that Pakistan’s cricketing success would continue to be a source of national pride.
Concluding his remarks, Tarar reassured the public that, by the grace of Allah, both the safety of the nation and Pakistan’s cricketing success would continue to thrive.