LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) central Punjab secretary general Syed Hassan Murtaza on Wednesday demanded that Pakistan should declare India a terrorist state.

He was talking to the media along with the PPP’s parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly, Syed Ali Haider Gilani.

Murtaza called for revisiting the Simla Agreement on the Kashmir dispute, stating the Line of Control (LoC) should be declared the ‘Line of Ceasefire’, and water agreements with India must be reviewed.

He criticised India’s cross-border terrorist activities and emphasised unity of the nation and armed forces to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty.

He said India has always promoted cross-border terrorism and now targeted and killed innocent civilians, blatantly violating international laws.

Murtaza said that the PPP stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Pakistan’s armed forces, setting aside all political differences.

He urged the youth to respond unitedly against India, not only on the borders but also in the media war.

Referring to the failures of the Indian air force, he said, “India took pride in its Rafale jets, but the Pakistan Air Force has proved that these aircraft are nothing before their falcons.”

While mentioning the growing unrest in India, Murtaza said the Indian public is questioning their rulers why are certain news channels being shut down? Why are certain websites and media platforms being banned?”

He claimed that a mutiny has erupted in the Indian army, with soldiers deserting their posts and raising white flags.

He stated that while India has violated international laws, Pakistan’s armed forces will give a befitting response and emerge victorious.

Gillani delivered a clear message to India, stating, “We pay tribute to all the heroes who have given a resounding response to India in the past.” He said, “Our falcons were awake and fully capable of delivering a crushing response to any aggression from the enemy.”

He paid special homage to the party’s founder and former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, crediting him for making Pakistan a nuclear power, which has rendered the country’s defence impregnable.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2025