ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that a case will be registered against Mufti Kifayatullah for his diatribe against Pakistan Army.

In an informal chat with journalists here on Tuesday, he said a case would be filed against the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader in Lahore with ‘full preparation’.

Apparently the minister was referring to Mufti Kifayatullah’s comments during a TV talk show in which he said “generals too should be held accountable for their theft”.

Sources told Dawn that the decision to take action against Mufti Kifayatullah was taken at a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

They said the prime minister directed the government’s spokespersons to effectively respond to the narrative against Pakistan Army by the opposition parties from the platform of Pakistan Democratic Movement.

The interior minister said Pakistan Army had been rendering sacrifices for the country and action would be taken against those found to be maligning it in accordance with the law and the Constitution.

When asked to comment on the criticism of Maulana Fazlur Rehman by the Central Executive Committee of the Pakistan Peoples Party for not attending the event held to mark the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, Sheikh Rashid said these developments were highly disappointing for the JUI-F.

The minister said he had been saying that the opposition would not resign but take part in the Senate elections.

He said that after the PPP’s decision, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz would be left with no option but to follow suit. “There will be pressure from within the party for it,” he remarked.

He said just two resignations from the PML-N had made them “cry and say these had not been sent to the speaker”.

Sheikh Rashid said the opposition parties knew that the government could repeal the 18th Amendment, if the ruling alliance was given space by their resignations. He said those talking of throwing out the government would see that the rulers would gain strength with every passing day and there would be more cracks in the PDM in future.

In reply to a question, he said Asif Ali Zardari plays his cards well by holding them close to his chest. He said the former president knew how to protect his personal interest and future.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2020