The Secretary General of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Ahsan Iqbal, has asserted that on May 9, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) crossed a red line, presenting the face of the party’s founder in a manner reminiscent of Hitler. Addressing the media after interviews with candidates from two divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the PML-N party secretariat in Model Town, Islamabad, Ahsan Iqbal expressed concerns over what he termed as organized conspiracies by the PTI against Pakistani youth.
Iqbal highlighted that the PTI orchestrated a series of events, starting with an attack on the parliament and culminating in an assault on Jinnah House on May 9, defiling the sanctity of Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum. He urged the PTI to seek forgiveness from the armed forces and the nation for their actions on the incident of May 9, asserting that if the party apologizes and reveals the roles played on that day, no harsh actions will be taken against them. However, he cautioned that if they choose to remain silent, more revelations may emerge.
Ahsan Iqbal contended that only the Muslim League-N can bring economic stability, acknowledging that the PTI’s social efforts saved Pakistan from default but expressing regret that the country had been pushed back to the conditions of 1997. He emphasized that the incoming elected government should focus on implementing reforms for Pakistan’s progress.
Speaking from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PML-N President for the province, Engineer Amir Muqam, stated that the enthusiasm this time around was not present in 2018, but the Muslim League-N remains a strong contender in the region.
It is notable that in Lahore, an important meeting of the parliamentary board of the PML-N was attended by party leaders, including Maryam Nawaz, Shahbaz Sharif, and other prominent figures. The meeting discussed the selection of candidates from Hazara and Malakand divisions.
Ahsan Iqbal’s critique of PTI’s actions on May 9, 2013, underscores the continued political tension between the two major political parties in Pakistan, setting the stage for a charged electoral environment.
