States that these issues can be resolved by consensus; adds Pakistan should stand with Bangladesh on World Cup stance
Advisor to the Prime Minister and senior leader of the PML-N, Rana Sanaullah. Photo: APP/File
Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Saturday welcomed coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s “genuine” demand for a judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza fire, saying it must be heard.
The MQM-P earlier today demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launch a high-level judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza tragedy, accusing the Sindh government and Karachi municipal authorities of negligence, delays and misleading the public.
Speaking on ‘Naya Pakistan’ show on a private news channel, Sanaullah said that in a democracy, every individual and every political party has the right to raise demands or protest against incidents. “If the MQM has made a request or has a specific point of view, it must be accommodated and listened to,” he added.
Learn more: The MQM-P calls for a judicial investigation into the Gul Plaza tragedy
He said it was up to the federal cabinet to decide whether to act on the MQM’s request. “If there is potential for action, there is no objection to its implementation. Otherwise, the MQM can be challenged. Similarly, if the PPP has a different perspective, it should also be valued and listened to,” Sanaullah said.
“There is nothing to worry about. This is the essence of democracy: everyone must have the freedom to express themselves,” added the senator.
He added that decisions on these issues were not difficult for the government, which could resolve them by consensus. “If consensus is reached, there is no objection to taking action, whether constitutional amendments or exercise of constitutional powers,” he said.
Pakistan should stand with Bangladesh (Sanaullah)
On questions regarding Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup and support for Bangladesh, the PML-N leader said, “Prima facie, I personally think we should stand with Bangladesh. In the long run, it will be in our interest. Yes, we might suffer financial losses in cricket, but that can be managed.”
His statement comes after Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for what he described as unfair treatment towards Bangladesh in the ongoing dispute over the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said he had raised Pakistan’s concerns directly at the ICC forums, urging the world governing body to treat all member countries equally.
Read: ICC names Scotland to replace Bangladesh at T20 World Cup 2026
When asked if Pakistan might consider boycotting the T20 World Cup, he said the decision would be up to the country’s leadership, while also suggesting that the ICC should explore a hybrid model for Bangladesh.
Sanaullah added that supporting Bangladesh could have long-term benefits for bilateral relations. “If Pakistan stands with Bangladesh today, we could enter into a relationship in which, like two brothers, the two countries support each other and move forward together,” he said, referring to the separation that occurred in 1971.
Asked if Pakistan supports Bangladesh or anti-Sheikh Hasina groups, he said: “We should not go into such details. We stand with Bangladesh, which opposes India, a country which is our enemy.”
He criticized India’s interventions in Bangladesh, saying New Delhi’s involvement in local politics was behind the current situation.
Sanaullah supports court decision in Imaan Mazari case
Sanaullah also defended an Islamabad court’s decision to sentence human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, lawyer Hadi Ali Chattha, to prison terms, saying no one should be allowed to cross certain boundaries or insult uniformed personnel.
He said there were two perspectives on this matter. “On the one hand, there is a view in their favor, but on the other hand, there is the view that they were repeatedly given opportunities, they were repeatedly asked to cross-examine, and yet they were repeatedly mocked and disrespected by the court,” he said.
Sanaullah said he considered Mazari “like my sister or my daughter” but added that “the manner of expression and the attitude they adopted insults the uniformed personnel, the people who sacrifice their lives for this country.”
Read: Islamabad court sentences Imaan and Hadi to 17 years in prison in social media posts case
He said no one should be allowed to cross such boundaries and those indulging in such acts should refrain from doing so.
Sanaullah said that if they had disagreements with the government, believed judicial independence had been curtailed or thought Parliament had made a wrong amendment, “they are free to criticize the government, target it with their remarks, and even use strong language if they wish.”
However, he added that “in the current circumstances, as we raise the funerals of the martyrs every day, they should at least show some restraint.”
The prime minister’s aide said they should not post messages on social media against institutions.
Rejecting the claim that they were not given the right to cross-examine in court, Sanaullah said the court was following due process. “If the court had not acted this way, the cross-examination would have continued for years, the evidence would not have been complete and the trial would not have been able to conclude,” he said.
The senator added that during trials, when people know that the allegations against them have been proven, “people adopt certain tactics to delay the conclusion of the trial, and sometimes the court also adopts a coercive approach to ensure that the case is concluded.”
