Tarar warns of strict action against those inciting violence, threatening lawmakers

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage, and Culture Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday warned that the state would respond firmly to those responsible for inciting violence and threatening the lawmakers.

Speaking to the media here, the minister expressed concern over the threats hurled by the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to the lawmakers for supporting constitutional amendments.

“No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands. The writ of the state will be established, and those issuing threats will be dealt with iron hands,” the minister said.

He warned that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to harm others’ lives or property, condemning PTI’s habitual use of threats against the opponents.

He said that if anyone tried to harm another person, the state will set an example by holding the perpetrators accountable, the official news agency reported.

He also accused the PTI of writing letters to the International Monetary Fund to push Pakistan towards default, orchestrating the May 9 attacks, vandalising memorials of martyrs, and calling for protests during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.

“This is a non-serious threat,” he remarked, pointing to the internal conflicts and divisions within PTI.

He added that those responsible for committing treachery against the country were well-known, and the nation was fully aware of PTI’s actions during its tenure. “Pakistan comes first; no political party is bigger than the country,” he asserted.

The minister expressed the opinion that peace and stability will move the nation forward, highlighting that the economy was progressing and Pakistan’s foreign policy was advancing.

Highlighting the successful conclusion of the SCO Summit, the minister said that the event helped restore Pakistan’s image on the global stage.

He said that visiting dignitaries praised Pakistan’s key role in the region and commended the excellent arrangements for the summit.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information, and other institutions in making the SCO Summit a success.

He thanked the public for their cooperation during the summit.

He said it was an honour for Pakistan to host its first major international event in 27 years, describing the summit as a milestone in the context of international relations.

The minister said that the country’s economic indicators were showing improvement due to government policies and expressed optimism that the summit would bring long-term benefits to Pakistan.

He also hinted at more positive news in the coming days, with several important bilateral meetings having taken place during the summit to enhance trade and investment, which would prove fruitful for the country’s economy and its people.

He also highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s productive meeting with the Russian prime minister on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. He said that all credit for the successful hosting of the SCO summit goes to the prime minister’s vision.

News regarding the chancellor election at Oxford University, he said that in civilised societies the rule of law and the constitution reign supreme. He said that individuals involved in legal cases were not permitted to participate in such activities, adding that Oxford University had excluded Imran Khan from the list of candidates, as he was convicted and facing various legal proceedings.

He also said that the 190 million pounds corruption case against PTI’s founder was in the court of law.