ISI, Rangers take orders from the PM: PML-N's Abbasi on Safdar's arrest

Published October 22, 2020
PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi addresses the media in Islamabad. — DawnNewsTV
PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi addresses the media in Islamabad. — DawnNewsTV

PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday said that institutions such as the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistan Rangers take their orders from the country's prime minister.

Abbasi was commenting on the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Captain Safdar. Speaking to the media in Islamabad, he said that the responsibility of the whole incident fell on Prime Minister Imran Khan.

"Both the institutions, the ISI and Rangers, directly report to the premier. Someone gave them instructions and that person can only be the prime minister. No one else can do that. The officials of these institutions take their orders from the country's premier.

"This is the reality behind this incident [and] this is the reality that the country's premier gave the order to violate the sanctity of the chaddor and char dewari," Abbasi said, adding that giving such an order was unlawful.

"These matters are very serious. The Constitution was violated, the authority of the province was challenged and the province's top officer was kidnapped. These are not small matters [and] all things go back to the premier's office.

"The premier will have to give an answer. Please read the oath you took when you assumed office. Not only did you break your own oath, you also directed other officials to break their own oaths."

The PML-N leader also said that he had expected the courts to take suo motu notice of the incident. We expected that our courts — that have taken notice of mere transfers of officials — would have taken suo motu notice, he said.

"Today a police officer was kidnapped and they didn't take notice."

We ousted a premier of the country for holding a visa in a suo motu case [but] today when the Constitution is in trouble our courts are silent, he said. "If the inspector general of police is not safe, then no one is safe," he said.

He added that the opposition had also expected the Senate to take notice of the incident. "It should take notice [and] a committee should be formed to go and see what is happening in Sindh."

'Opposition is scared of PM Imran's success'

Shortly after the PML-N leader's press conference, Information Minister Shibli Faraz hit back at the claims made by the opposition stating that they PML-N only believed in the sanctity of the chaddor and char dewari when it came to Maryam Nawaz.

"Have they forgotten when the shot at the faces of pregnant women in Model Town? Or when they dropped pictures of Benazir Bhutto from helicopters?"

Information Minister Shibli Faraz addresses the media in Islamabad. — DawnNewsTV
Information Minister Shibli Faraz addresses the media in Islamabad. — DawnNewsTV

He added that the opposition had also mentioned the country's first lady, who is not involved in politics, during their speeches in recent days. "Your morals have fallen so low that you are not willing to let anyone go."

The information minister added that at the moment the country needed a stable environment for fostering economic growth. "[But the opposition] wants to damage the democracy and the country."

He said that the opposition was scared of PM Imran's success. "If he is successful then your politics will end," he said, adding that a glimpse of this was seen during the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

"You talk about Pakistan's chain of command, [but] Khaqan sahab you are the biggest violator." Have you forgotten the LNG deals you made, he asked. "Why are gas prices going up. It's because of you."

The kind of things you are talking about it seems as though you want there to be economic uncertainty, he said. "You are only using these dramatics for your political gains. Have some shame."

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...