- Dar criticizes PTI for targeting Saudi relations for political purposes.
- Khawaja Asif says PTI has started using Sharia card.
- Tarar calls Bushra’s allegations “extremely dirty.”
Different political leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have strongly criticized Bushra Bibi’s recent statement alleging Saudi involvement in the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2022, emphasizing the importance of maintaining respectful and strategic foreign relations.
The PML-N leaders’ condemnation came after the PTI founder’s half, in a rare video message released on Thursday, accused Saudi Arabia of playing a role in toppling the Imran Khan-led government in 2022 .
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed dismay at the statement, saying: “Targeting Saudi Arabia for political purposes is regrettable. This statement reflects a desperate state of mind. »
He urged political forces to refrain from compromising foreign policy to achieve their goals, highlighting the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, based on mutual respect.
“We are proud of Saudi Arabia’s journey of progress and prosperity,” Dar added, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia has stood by Pakistan in difficult times.
Reacting to Bushra Bibi’s statement, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif hit out at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which the minister said has now started using religion for personal gain. The minister added that the former ruling party could do anything to gain political ground.
“Now they have started to play the sharia card,” he remarked, criticizing the exploitation of religious sentiments to gain political advantage.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari called the former first lady’s remarks a “suicide attack” on a friendly Islamic country.
“These troublemakers cannot bring any good to the country,” she said, highlighting the dangerous implications of such accusations against Saudi Arabia, which she described as “a pillar of the Muslim Ummah.”
For his part, the Minister of Information, Atta Tarar, condemned Bushra Bibi’s statements, highlighting the irony of his accusations against a country where his daughter was married.
“The same country gave them gifts that Bushra Bibi sold on the black market,” he said, calling his allegations “extremely dirty.”
Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi dismissed Bushra Bibi’s statement as baseless, recalling the respect and generosity shown by Saudi Arabia during Imran Khan’s visit to the country.
“I was present during the visit, as was General Bajwa. The delegation received great respect in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Ashrafi questioned the basis of Bushra Bibi’s claims, saying that Islamic laws were firmly in place in Saudi Arabia.
“What Sharia law did the PTI founder promulgate in Pakistan? And what threat did this pose to Saudi Arabia? » he questioned.
“The real problem is that Saudi Arabia is investing in Pakistan,” Ashrafi said, adding that a certain group is spreading propaganda against the friendly Islamic country.
“This is an attempt to appease the forces hostile to Saudi Arabia,” he added.