Sharjeel welcomes internal accountability process initiated by armed forces

Sindh Senior Minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon on Thursday welcomed the internal accountability process initiated by the armed forces of the country. He said some recent arrests might be linked to the tragic events of May 9, where certain individuals went to great lengths to discredit their own institutions.

He made these remarks while addressing a press conference after a meeting of the provincial cabinet. He termed the May 9 violence one of the darkest chapters in the country’s history and stated that the conspirators wanted to mislead and provoke the people turning them against their own institutions.

The ultimate goal of the May 9 incidents was to pressurise state institutions into halting actions against Imran Khan and clearing the path for his return to power, Memon said. He alleged that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder was the mastermind behind the May 9 tragedy.

He stated that former chief justice Saqib Nisar was another facilitator of the PTI founder who had played, and likely continued to play a significant role in securing relief for Khan from the courts. The information minister called Nisar a notorious figure and alleged that he repeatedly violated the constitution and laws of Pakistan, and targeted Khan's opponents through his remarks, imprisoned them and closely monitored their cases.

He claimed that the former chief justice was also responsible for the arrests of the Pakistan Peoples Party leadership as Faryal Talpur, Syed Khurshid Shah and Agha Siraj Durrani were arrested on his orders.

Memon stated that there were reports indicating that even today, the former chief justice continued to support the PTI. Those who oppressed and misled the people were now being brought to justice, he added.

The information minister stated that the recent developments had given a clear message that nothing was greater than Pakistan, and the country’s democracy and Parliament were of paramount importance.

He recalled that the leadership of the PPP had faced severe oppression in the past, including hangings, bombings, shootings, and floggings. Benazir Bhutto’s government was dissolved twice, and the party leaders were imprisoned without any crime but in spite of all that, the PPP never spoken out against the country or its institutions, Memon remarked.

He said the attacks on police with petrol bombs at the Zaman Park was an open and shut case against the PTI. He added that those who facilitated the May 9 tragedy should be punished according to the law and anyone who was directly or indirectly involved in the May 9 events should be prosecuted.

The information minister also discussed the power crisis in the press conference. He said Sindh would play a crucial role in the resolution of the current energy crisis that had caused much misery for the public.

He said President Asif Ali Zardari was committed to providing relief to the people and he had also issued a statement calling for providing relief to the people who could not afford to pay heavy electricity bills.

Memon mentioned that economic and energy experts were of the view that Thar coal could play a pivotal role in addressing the energy crisis of the country. Thar coal would be used to generate affordable electricity, which would not only meet Pakistan's energy needs but also enable the country to export electricity, he claimed.