Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has criticised the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and their ongoing protests, stating that the decisions made on November 26 would lead to further humiliation once revealed.
Addressing the National Assembly on Tuesday, Asif responded to the speech of Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, questioning the inconsistencies in the claims made about the number of casualties during the protests.
“As of today, it has been 12 to 13 days since November 26, yet it remains unclear whether there were 12, 278, or even thousands of deaths. The opposition has failed to provide clarity on the true number of casualties,” he remarked.
He also pointed out that there have been no identifying documents, funerals, graves, or families presented to verify the claims of 12 deaths made by the opposition.
The defence minister further criticised the lack of evidence and the nature of the allegations, calling them a disgrace to the nation’s collective consciousness.
“Such baseless statements and rhetoric without proof are an insult to the people. There are as many statements as there are leaders, each with differing accounts and numbers of casualties,” he added.
Asif also addressed comments made by Ayub regarding PTI leader Bushra Bibi’s involvement in the events of November 26. He revealed that, according to Ayub, Bushra Bibi had stated that the PTI leadership fled the scene, leaving their supporters behind.
“The opposition has now resorted to playing the card of regionalism,” the defence minister said.
He reminded them of the historical responsibility of former leader General Ayub Khan, who played a significant role in the creation of Bangladesh. “Now, his relatives are playing the regional card,” he stated.
Emphasising national unity, the defence minister said that all ethnic groups, including Punjabis, Sindhis, Baloch, and Pashtuns, have equal rights in Pakistan.
