I oppose ban on political parties, but they will have to become one,

Miscreants to be tried under anti-terrorism law:

Islamabad_Foreign Minister and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday while asserting that if PTI intends to transform into a militant organization, it will be held accountable under the law, said that he opposes the ban but political parties must also embrace a political approach.

During an informal interaction with journalists at the Parliament House, he highlighted that the events of May 9 witnessed a complete disregard for established boundaries and emphasized that, in accordance with the law, the PTI will have to face the consequences of their actions.

Bilawal Bhutto went on to express his view that productive negotiations cannot take place unless India reverses the August 2019 measures. He underlined that these measures blatantly disregard international laws and United Nations resolutions.

The foreign minister expressed that his party oppose a ban, but it is imperative for political parties to operate within the bounds of politics. “Should PTI choose to adopt a militant approach, legal consequences will follow,” he said, adding that the establishment of additional military courts is not under consideration, rather any violations of the law will be addressed through the implementation of the Official Secrets Act and the Army Act.

Earlier,

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Thursday here met Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and held a detailed consultation on the present political situation,

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared that the miscreants involved in May 9 attacks on state installations will be tried under anti-terrorism law, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Sharif said that he and members of his cabinet were in extreme grief over the tragic incident that took place at Radio Pakistan’s Peshawar building on May 9.

Speaking during his visit to the building in Peshawar, Shehbaz Sharif asked, “Was vandalizing and torching the building, which has a special significance in the country’s history, an act of patriotism?”

That was the building, he went on to say, from where announcement had been made in 1947 that Pakistan had come into being. “Every nation keeps its heritage close to its heart,” he said.

The prime minister said that not only miscreants had damaged Radio Pakistan’s building on that day, but also the monument of Chagai and other structures. “How sad it is that the archive department of the building was completely burnt,” he said.

He was of the view that there was no difference between those who had set the building on fire and terrorists. “What our arch foe India could not do throughout the existence of the country, was done by workers of a political party,” PM Shehbaz said, adding, “Those who had damaged military and government buildings as well as monuments of martyrs on May 9 did not deserve mercy and would be brought to justice.

Shehbaz Sharif also announced to immediately start work for restoration of the historic building of Radio Pakistan Peshawar, which was completely destroyed and set ablaze by the miscreants during violent incidents on 9th and 10th of May.

Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, Federal Ministers, Governor and Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Director General Radio Pakistan, and other authorities were also present on this occasion.

The Prime Minister expressed his dismay over the loss of precious and historic archival record that was completely destroyed and torched by the violent mob.

Shehbaz Sharif while lauding the bravery and national spirit of Radio Pakistan employees also distributed cheques of financial assistance for the two staff members who bravely countered the violent mob that attacked the building of the national broadcaster.

He said ransacking and arson of Radio Pakistan Peshawar building severely hurt the twenty two million people of Pakistan.

He said torching the national broadcaster and its archival record that was preserved since independence of Pakistan by arsonists is not patriotism, but enmity with the nation.

Shehbaz Sharif said those who were involved in, ransacking, torching and miscreants activities would be dealt with iron hands according to the law and the constitution.

The prime minister appreciated the foreign minister for exposing all over the world the false propaganda of India on Kashmir and its condemnable attempt to give a wrong impression to the world by calling recent meeting of G-20 in the occupied valley.

He also praised Bilawal Bhutto for effectively espousing the aspirations of Kashmiris during his address to the Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Kashmir issue was the unfinished agenda of partition of the sub-continent, he said adding the nefarious attempts of India to claim the Occupied Kashmir as its part would never succeed.

Shehbaz Sharif said heart of every Pakistani beat for his Kashmiri brothers.