India planned Pulwama attack to gain political mileage: Chohan

LAHORE: Punjab Information and Culture Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan on Wednesday said after losing its value among the masses, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi planned the Pulwama attack to gain political mileage.

Talking to the media outside the Punjab Assembly, the minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan had conveyed the message to India for probing facts behind the Pulwama incident with respect but once action was initiated from ‘our side, entire India would remember it’.

He said history showed that whenever Indian rulers had to do anti-Pakistan legislation or attain any mileage, they started propaganda campaigns against Pakistan and ISI. Chohan added that when Indian Parliament was attacked, Afzal Guru was arrested and executed in prison, adding no one was given access to him and incidents like Mumbai attacks.

To a question about allegations of political victimisation by the opposition parties, Fayaz Chohan said accountability would be done across the board. He added Pakistan had been robbed in the name of Charter of Democracy and now NAB was playing its role. However, he said there were some shortcomings in the process of prosecution and the government was also working to bring reforms in police.

When asked about medical treatment being given to the former Prime Minister in gynecology ward of Jinnah Hospital, Fayaz Chohan replied it wasn’t the government but Nawaz Sharif himself preferred that ward.

He said every treatment facility was being provided to the former PM and different medical boards had also been constituted for the purpose. The information minister also said that Nawaz Sharif was a heart patient and one of the visitors had also seen him eating ‘Khataai.’

After the issuance of his Production Order by Speaker Punjab Assembly, former senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan attended the Punjab Assembly session. During the PA session, he was also seen sitting on the minister’s seat which he isn’t allowed after he is no more the part of Punjab cabinet.

Talking to the media outside the Punjab Assembly, Abdul Aleem Khan stated that he had been returning to PA since 2003 and never sought any benefit for himself in his political career. He said he appeared before NAB, he was informed about his arrest and stated that he immediately resigned from ministry.

Abdul Aleem Khan went on to say that he was siding with Prime Minister Imran Khan and only Allah can deliver the best justice. This is noteworthy that two MPAs of the House including PML-N’s Khawaja Salman Rafique and PTI’s Abdul Aleem Khan are in NAB custody over different charges. Both the legislators attended the PA session and reached Punjab Assembly with NAB teams separately.

Abdul Aleem Khan was received by PTI Senator Dr Shehzad Waseem, cabinet members like Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Faisal Hayat Jaboana and others. PML-N legislator Azma Zahid Bokhari submitted a resolution in Punjab Assembly condemning the directive by Modi government to Pakistanis who have been asked to leave Rajasthan within 48 hours.

The resolution submitted the instructions issued to Pakistanis to leave Rajasthan within 48 hours and not to grant any accommodation to them in local hotels was highly condemnable. It stated that this directive reflected the war frenzy of Indian and also added that Indian government was adopting all nefarious tactics to suppress the voice of Kashmiris.

Azma Bokhari through the resolution demanded United Nations to take notice of the human rights violations by India.