• PM Shehbaz Sharif recalls Saudi Arabia’s unconditional help through thick and thin
• Khawaja Asif terms ex-first lady’s words ‘bid to save sinking PTI ship’
• Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz describes remarks as ‘attack on Pakistan’s most trusted ally’

ISLAMABAD / D.G. KHAN: A day after Bushra Bibi’s statement kicked up a storm, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday termed the remarks an “unforgivable crime”, declaring that no one would be allowed to “spew venom” against friendly states.

“The government will take strict action on any negative remarks against Saudi Arabia,” PM Shehbaz said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Restoration of Kachhi Canal damaged by the 2022 floods.

He recounted Saudi Arabia’s history of unconditionally and fully helping out Pakistan through various difficult times — no matter who held power in Islamabad — in many ways and on fronts without asking anything in return, including recent negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

“I will, unfortunately, have to mention some events here because … a statement has come out yesterday, which I think there can be no greater enmity against Pakistan than this that you spew venom against the country that has never demanded anything in return and always opened its doors for Pakistan,” PM Shehbaz said in an apparent reference to Bushra Bibi’s remarks.

PTI founding chairman’s wife on Thursday claimed some foreign powers were unhappy over Imran Khan’s religious posture of walking barefoot in Madina. She said after he returned home, then-army chief Qamar Bajwa started receiving calls in which ex-PM’s posture was criticised. She didn’t specify who made the calls.

The prime minister in his speech warned: “It is an unforgivable crime that you spew venom [against Saudi Arabia]. I want to announce as the prime minister that any hand that becomes an obstacle in the friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the nation will break those hands.

“This is not a joke. What will they think? Such an allegation has been made that no one could even imagine. Seeds of hate are being sown for short-term political interest. What political interest is this that is sacrificing Pakistan’s highest interest?”

PM Shehbaz declared that no one would be allowed to play with the country’s interests when it came to brotherly allies such as Saudi Arabia.

“During my recent visits, the Saudi government talked about significant investment in Pakistan. Agreements were made in this regard,” he pointed out.

When Pakistan became a nuclear power, Saudi Arabia gave free oil despite global sanctions, he further said, adding that the facility continued even during the reign of General Musharraf.

He said those “spreading such poison in society” had no idea of its consequences and negative effects.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz while condemning Bushra Bibi’s remarks labelled them as an attack on Pakistan’s most trusted ally.

The chief minister was staggered at how a “non-political individual” could harm Pakistan’s foreign relations.

“It is shocking that a domestic figure with no political involvement made such baseless accusations against a nation that has always supported us in difficult times,” she added.

‘Diminishing politics’

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif while addressing a presser in Islamabad termed Bushra Bibi’s statement “a failed attempt to save the PTI’s diminishing politics”.

He described her remarks as “regrettable and dirty acts”.

“Over 2.8 million Pakistanis are working in Saudi Arabia who send billions of dollars in remittances back home every year,” he added.

The minister said, “Our cordial and friendly relationship with Saudi Arabia should not be affected due to someone’s personal political gains. Such a controversial statement is an effort to save PTI’s sinking ship.”

He said accusations were serious enough for the former army chief to address them himself. “[PTI’s] politics are sinking, and they want to save it.”

The defence minister alleged that the entire situation was actually about a fight for control of the party between Bushra Bibi and Imran’s three sisters.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in a statement posted on X also criticised the former first lady for “implicating Saudi Arabia for petty political point-scoring”.

He said the government was proud of the “close relationship” Pakistan had with the friendly country which “always stood” by “through thick and thin”.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2024