THERE is understandable reaction over remarks made by former Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq during his speech in the house on the issue of release of captured Indian pilot Abhinandan as the statement has been widely used by the Indian media to ridicule Pakistan and Pakistan Army, which otherwise gave a befitting response to New Delhi’s aggressive designs. While Director-General, ISPR termed it as distortion of the history, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi lamented that irresponsible statements are being given by responsible people.
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq is considered to be a serious, mature and moderate politician and that is why he successfully played his role as Speaker of the National Assembly. Normally, he would not make unnecessary or uncalled for remarks but what he said on the floor of the house on the controversy was unbecoming of a person of his stature. It is a universal fact that India’s pride was raised to ground when Pakistan gave a prompt and firm response to New Delhi’s adventurism against Islamabad. India’s Army, which is being prepared by some powers as a counter to China, also had to lick the ground and its morale nose-dived after shooting down the aircraft and humiliating capture of its pilot. Indian media and public opinion criticized their own Government and the defence forces over the episode and it was in this backdrop that the Indian Government took refuge behind propaganda that Pakistan was forced to release the pilot. That is why what Ayaz Sadiq said was sweet to Indian ears and propagated and projected widely on social and traditional media. The former Speaker too realized the folly and issued a video statement clarifying his remarks. Given the kind of relationship between the Government and the Opposition these days, which are heading towards serious confrontation, one can easily understand that the remarks of Ayaz Sadiq were actually aimed at ridiculing the Government without realizing their repercussions for national security. This was essentially a political statement and has aptly been responded to by the spokespersons of the Government and the defence forces. The controversy should come to an end now as hammering of the issue by either side would be counter-productive.
