LAHORE:
Veteran politician Aitzaz Ahsan has condemned an anti-terrorism court’s (ATC) decision to convict PTI’s senior politician Dr Yasmin Rashid in a May 9 case, questioning the rationale behind sentencing an ill woman to ten years in prison.
“What was the reasoning behind punishing Yasmin Rashid?” She is ill, she is an 80-year-old woman. Have some fear of God. Where are you taking this country?” Aitzaz, who belongs to the PPP, said on Thursday in an informal interaction with the media in Lahore.
He said the government has no temperament to de-escalate political tensions. He said twelve sites were attacked during the May 9 riots. “Was action taken against even a single relevant SHO?” he asked.
Talking with reference to Mian Azhar, the PPP leader said the deceased politician was a dignified and simple person. “He served as Punjab governor; yet, meeting him never felt like meeting someone high and mighty,” he said.
According to Aitzaz, Mian Azhar remained loyal to his party even in his final days. “He faced many constraints but never abandoned his comrades,” he said.
Talking with reference to General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, he said the former army chief set a record in parliament during a law amendment with regard to extension in his tenure. “On the occasion of the extension, Bajwa-specific law was passed by securing 340 out of 342 votes,” he said.
