Nawaz Sharif's 'Mumbai attacks' statement triggers criticism

ISLAMABAD: Deposed premier Mian Nawaz Sharif’s ‘Mumbai attacks’ comments during an interview to a local newspaper have triggered a flood of criticism from analysts, politicians and general public in Pakistan, ARY News reported on Saturday.

Former PM and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s lifelong leader, in an interview with a leading English daily, said that “militant organisations are active” in Pakistan and asked the interviewer if the state should allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai.

Sharif, who was answering a question about his ouster, steered the conversation towards foreign policy and national security by saying that Pakistan has isolated itself in international arena despite giving sacrifices in war on terror.

“Our narrative is not being accepted. Afghanistan’s narrative is being accepted, but ours is not. We must look into it. Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?” said Nawaz while referring  to the Mumbai attacks-related trials which have stalled in a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court.

As local analysts and politicians criticised him for his “irresponsible” attitude after his ouster from power, Indian media misinterpreted his words to take it as a validation of their claim that the 2008 Mumbai attacks were orchestrated from Pakistan.

Mr Sharif, 68, was disqualified by the Supreme Court for not being “honest and righteous” as he failed to declare in 2013 a salary he got from the company of his son in the UAE. In February, the top court also disqualified him as the head of the ruling PML-N.