ISLAMABAD: Pouncing on former first lady Bushra Bibi’s statement, the federal government vowed that strict action would be taken on any negative remarks against Saudi Arabia even as the PTI denied her comments’ negative characterisation.
In a video message on Thursday, the PTI founder’s spouse had claimed that some foreign powers were unhappy over his religious posture of walking barefoot in Madina. She said after the ex-PM returned from the holy city, then-army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa had begun receiving calls of disapproval. She didn’t specify who made the calls.
The statement seemingly baffled PTI leaders and workers who were expecting a favourable outcome from back-channel diplomacy in the lead-up to the party’s protest. Several media reports on Thursday night claimed the former general denied the allegations, while her claims also prompted widespread concern within party circles, with many saying her remarks could hurt ongoing backchannel efforts.
Addressing an inauguration ceremony in Islamabad for a flood restoration programme, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recounted the history of Saudi Arabia unconditionally and fully helping out Pakistan through various points in history — no matter the government in power — in many ways and fronts without asking anything in return, including recent negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
“I will, unfortunately, have to mention some events here because … a statement has come out yesterday, which I think there can be no greater enmity against Pakistan than this that you spew venom against the country that has never demanded anything in return and always opened its doors for Pakistan,” he said in an apparent reference to Bushra’s remarks.
The prime minister warned: “It is an unforgivable crime that you spew venom [against Saudi Arabia] after that. I want to announce as the prime minister that any hand that becomes an obstacle in the friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the nation will break those hands.
“This is not a joke. What will they think? Such an allegation has been made that no one could even imagine. Seeds of hate are being sown for short-term political interest. What political interest is this that is sacrificing Pakistan’s highest interest?”
The premier said no one would be allowed to play with the country’s interests when it came to brotherly allies such as Saudi Arabia.
