ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Tuesday strongly reacted to the comments of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Maryam Nawaz about slain anchorperson Arshad Sharif and termed these “shameful and unethical”.

PTI leaders said Maryam Nawaz tried to insult Arshad Sharif, which further exposed her mentality.

It is worth mentioning that Ms Nawaz posted a photo of Arshad Sharif’s coffin in ropes on the airport runway before its transportation to Pakistan and tweeted: “I don’t feel good RTing this but this is a lesson for mankind that we must all imbibe.”

However, later in a tweet, she clarified: “My tweet was NOT aimed at mocking someone but about learning our lessons from the past. I am undoing the tweet & apologise for the hurt it may have caused to the aggrieved which never was my intention. May no one ever have to go through this pain. Prayers for the bereaved family.”

PML-N leader later deletes tweet and apologises

A statement issued by PTI’s Central Media Department on Tuesday said that at a time when the entire nation was mourning his [Arshad Sharif’s] brutal targeted killing and was in a state of extreme shock, this “queen of liar” rubbed salt into the wounds of not only Arshad’s family but also the people of the country.

PTI’s senior vice president Fawad Chaudhary said Maryam Nawaz’s statement further exposed her mentality. “You [Maryam] should be ashamed of your remarks; at a time when the entire country is in a state of shock and grief due to the martyrdom of Arshad Sharif, you have not only added to the pain of his mother and family, but also to the pain of every Pakistani,” he said. He demanded that a powerful judicial commission be formed to look into the matter.

PTI’s senior vice president Dr Shireen Mazari came down hard on Maryam Nawaz and termed her extremely brutal. She said Arshad Sharif was forced to leave the country after false FIRs were registered against him. “Shameless woman [Maryam], this unjust blood is on the head of your uncle’s [Shehbaz Sharif] government and answer must be given,” she added.

PTI’s central information secretary Farrukh Habib said, “Whenever Maryam Safdar spoke, she caused trouble.” Advising her to do something other than rioting, he said, “Arshad Sharif is not in this world but everyone has seen your [Maryam] mentality.”

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2022