In a recent appearance on the Aik News show, hosted by Batool Rajput and Fahd Husain, Senator Faisal Vawda engaged in a comprehensive discussion regarding PTI’s stance on the events of 1971. The conversation was ignited by Batool Rajput’s probing questions, which highlighted the apparent contradiction between Malik Riaz’s affiliations and his vocal support for PTI.
Rajput wasted no time in raising concerns about Malik Riaz’s tweet, questioning the implications of such support coming from a prominent figure like him. She argued that there is a perception that Malik Riaz has good relations with the military leadership, but his tweet shows that he supports Imran Khan. She asked what message this gives when a powerful person like Malik Riaz supports Imran Khan.
In a post on social media platform X dated May 26, Imran Khan’s account, managed by his social media team due to his incarceration in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, shared a video along with a quote attributed to him: “Every Pakistani should study the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor, General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.” The video argued that the former military dictator was the one actually responsible for the country’s breakup, referring to alleged atrocities committed by the Pakistani military during the civil war. It also interspersed images of the current civilian and military leadership, alleging that they stole the party’s mandate in the general elections. The PTI had doubled down on the post, saying that the report analysed the “role of the Pakistan military in the political-military involvement in East-Pakistan from 1947 to 1971.”
Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz also made headlines with his post on X. On Sunday, Riaz claimed that he was being pressured for “political motives,” but asserted that he would not bow before anyone. In a message on X, the real estate tycoon said he had been pushed to the wall and was facing constant losses in his business, though he did not specify who was pressuring him or why. It is widely believed that Malik Riaz was referring to the Al Qadir Trust/University case, which was filed by NAB against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. They were the main accused in the £190 million corruption case. The case alleges that while PM, Imran Khan and his spouse obtained land from Bahria Town Ltd to legalise Rs 50 billion, which was identified and returned to the country by the UK authorities. On Jan 9, an accountability court froze the properties of five co-accused in the case, including Malik Riaz and his son Ahmed Ali Riaz, who were declared proclaimed offenders for failing to join investigations. At present, the real estate tycoon is believed to be out of the country.
In his message on X, Malik Riaz said: “All my life, Allah has always guided me to stand by my principle of not taking any political side or being used by one party against the other. For over a year now, I’ve been under immense pressure to compromise, but I’ll never allow anyone to use me as a pawn for political motives.” He claimed this had been a recurring pattern of victimisation against him and his business for introducing state-of-the-art projects in Pakistan. “From 1996 till today, I’ve been ‘punished’ for contributing towards the progress of the country. I have faced such pressures in the past with absolute grit and strength. Even today, in a personal capacity, I can say with utmost certainty, ‘over my dead body,’” he added. “Despite my ailing condition and distress, I’m standing firm in the face of this adversity, bearing financial business loss daily and being pushed to the wall completely, but will not surrender to any pressure tactics. Allah will guide and help me through this tough phase with dignity,” he said.
Reacting to the tycoon’s statement, former president and PTI leader Arif Alvi asserted that the pressure cooker will ‘burst one of these days’. “And who will suffer the damage? Not those who have ensured escape routes to foreign countries, but us loyal Pakistanis who have decided to live and die in our country,” he said.
In response to these developments, Senator Faisal Vawda delved into the heart of the matter, pointing out the prevalent trend among various parties to adopt aggressive postures driven primarily by personal agendas and the desire to shield their own wrongdoings. He stressed the common practice of preemptively crafting narratives to deflect blame in times of crisis.
Senator Vawda also seized the opportunity to emphasise the urgency of Prime Minister Imran Khan clarifying whether the dissemination of social media content relating to 1971 was sanctioned with his approval. He suggested that a mere apology from PTI would not suffice to quell the escalating tensions and hinted at the possibility that the party might have orchestrated the situation to undermine Imran Khan’s leadership.
Expressing his dismay over the deficiencies within Pakistan’s judicial system, Senator Vawda contended that solely political solutions would not suffice to address the nation’s multifaceted challenges. He vehemently warned against any attempts to incite unrest, categorically stating that such actions would be met with zero tolerance.
Turning his attention back to Batool Rajput’s questions about PTI’s social media campaign concerning 1971, Senator Vawda disclosed that the government is actively formulating a strategy to counter it, underscoring the gravity of such activities and deeming them utterly unacceptable. He further expressed doubt regarding the level of public support for Imran Khan, suggesting that PTI may have abandoned individuals associated with past events.
Looking towards the horizon, Senator Faisal Vawda painted a grim picture of what the future might hold for PTI. He ominously predicted severe repercussions in the days to come, hinting at a potential clash with state authorities. Additionally, he touched upon the sensitive case of Ahmed Farhad, cautioning against baseless accusations directed towards intelligence agencies and urging judges to uphold objectivity.
The dialogue on the Aik News show provided invaluable insights into Senator Faisal Vawda’s perspective on historical events and shed light on the intricate dynamics shaping PTI’s political strategy.
