Says that such issues can be resolved through consensus; adds that Pakistan should stand with Bangladesh on World Cup position
Advisor to the Prime Minister and senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah. Photo: APP/ File
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Saturday welcomed the “genuine” demand by coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan for a judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza fire and said it should be heard.
The MQM-P earlier today demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif form a high-level judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza tragedy, accusing the Sindh government and Karachi civil authorities of negligence, delays and misleading the public.
Speaking on the program ‘Naya Pakistan’ on a private news broadcast, Sanaullah said that in a democracy, all individuals and political parties have the right to raise demands or protest against incidents. “If MQM has made a demand or has a specific point of view, it should be welcomed and listened to,” he added.
Read more: MQM-P demands judicial inquiry into Gul Plaza tragedy
He said it was up to the federal cabinet to decide whether to respond to MQM’s demands. “If there is potential for action, there is no objection to implement it. If not, MQM can be argued with. Similarly, if PPP has a different perspective, it should also be given value and listened to,” Sanaullah said.
“There is nothing to be upset about. This is the essence of democracy – everyone should have the freedom to speak,” the senator added.
He further said that decisions on such issues were not difficult for the government which could resolve them through consensus. “If consensus is reached, there is no objection to act, whether it involves constitutional amendments or the exercise of constitutional powers,” he said.
Pakistan should stand with Bangladesh: Sanaullah
Asked about 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 may suffer some financial losses in cricket, but it can be managed.”
His statement comes after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) over what he described as unfair treatment of Bangladesh in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup dispute.
Naqvi, who also serves as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said he had raised Pakistan’s concerns directly at ICC forums and urged the world governing body to treat all member nations equally.
Read: ICC names Scotland as replacement for Bangladesh at T20 World Cup 2026
Asked whether Pakistan could consider a boycott of the World Cup in T20, he said the decision would rest with the country’s leadership, while also suggesting that the ICC should explore a hybrid model for Bangladesh.
Sanaullah added that aid to Bangladesh could have long-term benefits for bilateral relations. “If Pakistan stands with Bangladesh today, we can enter into a relationship where both countries, like two brothers, support each other and move forward together,” he said, referring to the partition that took place in 1971.
When asked if Pakistan was supporting Bangladesh or anti-Sheikh Hasina groups, he said: “We should not go into these details. We stand with Bangladesh, which is against India, a country that is our enemy.”
He criticized India’s intervention in Bangladesh and said New Delhi’s involvement in local politics had created the current situation.
Sanaullah supports the court’s decision in the 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 lines or insult uniformed personnel.
He said there were two perspectives on the matter. “On the one hand, there is a view in their favor, but on the other hand, there is the perspective that they were repeatedly given opportunities, repeatedly told to conduct cross-examination, yet they repeatedly flouted and disrespected the court,” he said.
Sanaullah said he considered Mazari “like my sister or daughter” but added that “the way they expressed themselves and the attitude they have taken insults the uniformed personnel, the people who sacrifice their lives for this country.”
Read: Islamabad court sentences Imaan, Hadi to 17 years in prison in social media posting case
He said no one should be allowed to cross such borders and those involved in such acts should refrain from doing so.
Sanaullah said that if they disagreed with the government, believed that judicial independence had been curtailed or believed that parliament had made a wrong amendment, “they are free to criticize the government, target it with their remarks, even use strong language if they wish”.
However, he added that “under the current circumstances, when we raise funerals of martyrs every day, they should at least show some restraint.”
The Premier’s assistant said they should not post on social media against institutions.
Sanaullah rejected the allegation that they were denied the right to cross-examine in court, saying the court followed due process. “If the court did not act in this way, the cross-examination would have continued for years, evidence would not have been concluded and the trial could not have ended,” 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 takes a coercive approach to ensure that the case is concluded”.
