PTI Chairman sold the state gifts, his arrest is not political as he has been arrested on court order: Marriyum Aurangzeb
ISLAMABAD, August 06 (SABAH): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb says Pakistan Tehereek-e-Insaf (PTI): Chairman Imran Khan was arrested on corruption charges after he failed to prove his innocence in the court of law. She said that PTI chairman sold the state gifts, his arrest is not political as he has been arrested on court order.
In an interview with “BBC”, Marriyum Aurangzeb said PTI chief’s arrest has nothing to do with politics or political victimization, the case has gone through due process of law and the court has given him sentence after he failed to provide any evidence in his defence.
The Minister said everyone who is proven guilty has to be arrested and there is nothing to do with politics. She said political victimization was when during PTI’s rule entire two benches of opposition in the parliament were put behind bars on false charges.
The Minister said there is no question of timing of PTI chief’s arrest because no one can be spared of arrest just because elections are down the row. She said a person who remained at the highest office of the country and has violated his authority cannot be let go of.
Marriyum Aurangzeb added that PTI chief was given ample opportunity to defend himself but he kept on evading the court hearings and did not produce any evidence to refute allegations against him.
She said PTI chief attended only three out of 40 court hearings and instead blamed his staff and team for every wrong.
Responding to a question, Marriyum Aurangzeb said there is no crackdown against PTI workers instead PTI is a party which unleashed violence against the state institutions and sensitive installations on May 9.
She said national interest must be put above all politics and no one can be allowed to attack sensitive buildings, schools and hospitals and there is clear evidence against PTI chief being mastermind of all that happened on May 9.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said PTI chief cannot be compared with Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who not only presented himself for accountability but attended 150 court hearings and there was not a single attack on sensitive installations, buildings or hospitals and mosques by his workers. Nawaz Sharif answered all the allegations leveled against him. “Courts are there; everyone has the right to answer the allegations,” she maintained.
She also justified actions being taken against the PTI workers for May 9 carnage. “They targeted sensitive installations and action is being taken against those involved in the May 9 attacks as per the law,” she continued.
Marriyum said the PTI chairman did not appear in court to defend himself. But Nawaz Sharif appeared 150 times before the NAB. “You cannot avoid cases by threatening the law. You cannot keep the people in the dark all the time,” she asserted.
The federal minister said that PTI workers attacked police in Zaman Park. Should those who attacked government properties, hospitals and schools be spared, she questioned?
Regarding economic turmoil, she claimed that the former premier blamed his cabinet for the crisis.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said that she also received state gifts. “I deposited the gifts in the Toshakhana, but the PTI chairman was unable to answer the questions in the court,” she quipped.
The information minister said that the PTI chief jailed political opponents and tortured media workers during his reign.
“It was for the first time in the history of the country that a political party used petrol bombs. Peaceful protest is the democratic right of every political party and worker,” she concluded.