ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Shibli Faraz on Friday warned that "the law will take its course" against PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq for his comments wherein he had accused the incumbent PTI-led government of releasing Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman under pressure.
"What Ayaz Sadiq said is beyond forgiveness," Faraz said on Twitter, warning that "now the law will take its course."
"Weakening the state is an unforgivable offence," the minister wrote, adding that Sadiq and his followers should be punished for it.
Two senior PML-N lawmakers, including the former National Assembly speaker, had earlier accused the government of taking the decision to release Indian pilot Abhinandan under pressure.
"Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was present in the meeting, which Imran Khan had refused to attend," Ayaz Sadiq had said in parliament on Wednesday, adding that Qureshi had "begged the Opposition to release Abhinandan or else India would attack Pakistan at 9pm".
"India never attacked Pakistan but the government nonetheless handed over Abhinandan to Indian authorities," he had said.
The reaction that followed Sadiq's comments was swift.
Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar on Thursday said viewing the decision to release Abhinandan as anything other than "the mature response of a responsible state" is "highly regrettable".
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said the former NA speaker's comments were "contrary to the truth" and regretted that "responsible people are making irresponsible statements".
"Highly irresponsible statements are being issued for political gains; responsible people are talking irresponsibly, which is surprising," the foreign minister said. "These people are misleading the nation on the issues of Kulbhushan and Abhinandan."
In his defence, Sadiq lambasted the Indian media for "distorting" his comments. "One thing is clear: Abhinandan did not come to Pakistan to distribute sweets; he had attacked Pakistan," the PML-N leader said.
However, Sadiq, in a pointed attack directed at Prime Minister Imran Khan, also asked if the decision to release Abhinandan was made "on dictation" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.