- Advertisement -
RAWALPINDI, Dec 13 (APP):Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Saturday said the May 9 incidents were not accidental but a well-organised conspiracy deliberately aimed at targeting Pakistan’s security and state institutions.
He alleged that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder had adopted an anti-state narrative that ran counter to national interests, security and institutions. He was speaking to the media while addressing the inauguration ceremony of a three-day Food Festival organised by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) at Ayub National Park.
The minister said that, driven by a lust for power, the country’s integrity was put at risk on May, adding memorials of martyrs were vandalised, while attacks were carried out on the Corps Commander House and the General Headquarters.
He said it was a conspiracy long sought by the enemy that materialised through internal and external collusion, as evidence, phone calls and planning in that regard were all on record.
Abbasi lauded Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, under whose leadership the Pakistan Armed Forces defeated an enemy ten times larger, a victory recognised worldwide. Owing to the sacrifices of the martyrs, he said, slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad” echoed across the world and the nation took pride in its armed forces.
Pakistan’s state institutions, he said, had once again demonstrated their strength and all facilitators involved in the conspiracy were being brought to justice.
The minister praised the RCCI for actively working to address issues faced by the business community while also promoting public, cultural and recreational activities.
He congratulated the RCCI president, his cabinet members and the entire team on the successful organisation of the food festival.
Commending the chamber’s proactive stance on key issues such as tax reductions, the energy crisis and electricity tariffs, he said the RCCI remained in constant contact with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Office and other relevant institutions to safeguard business interests and contribute to economic improvement.
He said the RCCI deserved credit for organising positive, constructive and people-friendly activities such as the annual food festival.
Such events, he said, played an important role in projecting Pakistan’s soft image at both national and international levels, adding that foreign diplomats attending the festival would carry back a positive impression of Pakistan to their respective countries.
It was wrong to associate Pakistan with terrorism, he said, adding that the world must also be introduced to the country’s culture, traditions, hospitality and positive aspects.
Talking about the railway sector, Hanif Abbasi said improvements were being made through teamwork and that practical steps were under way to provide better facilities to the public.
Meanwhile, a large number of citizens, particularly families, visited the food festival, where various stalls, traditional cuisines and recreational activities remained a major attraction.