He says these issues can be resolved through consensus; Adds Pakistan should support Bangladesh in its stance on World Cup
Rana Sanaullah, advisor to the prime minister and leader of the PML-N. Photo: APP/File
Prime Minister’s Political Affairs Advisor 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 should be heard.
The MQM-P today demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launch a high-level judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza tragedy, accusing the Sindh government and Karachi civic authorities of negligence, delays and misleading the public.
Speaking on a private news station’s ‘Naya Pakistan’ programme, Sanaullah said that in a democracy, every individual and political party has the right to raise demands or protest incidents. “If MQM has made a demand or has a specific point of view, it should be welcomed and heard,” he added.
Read more: MQM-P demands judicial investigation into Gul Plaza tragedy
He said it was up to the federal cabinet to decide whether to act on the MQM’s demand. “If there is potential for action, there is no objection to its implementation. If not, it can be discussed with the MQM. Similarly, if the PPP has a different perspective, it should also be given courage and listened to,” Sanaullah said.
“There is nothing to be angry about. This is the essence of democracy: everyone should have the freedom to speak,” the senator added.
He further said that decisions on these matters were not difficult for the government, which could resolve them through consensus. “If a consensus is reached, there is no objection to taking action, whether it be constitutional amendments or the exercise of constitutional powers,” he said.
Pakistan should support Bangladesh: Sanaullah
On questions about Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup and supporting Bangladesh, the PML-N leader said: “Prima facie, I personally think we should support Bangladesh. In the long run, it will be in our interest. Yes, we may suffer some 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 of Bangladesh in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Naqvi, who also serves as president of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said he had raised Pakistan’s concerns directly on the ICC forums, urging the world governing body to treat all member nations equally.
Read: ICC names Scotland as replacement for Bangladesh in T20 World Cup 2026
When asked if Pakistan could consider a boycott of the T20 World Cup, he said the decision would rest with the country’s leaders, while 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 supports Bangladesh today, we can enter into a relationship where, like two brothers, both countries support each other and move forward together,” he said, referring to the separation that occurred in 1971.
Asked whether Pakistan supported Bangladesh or anti-Sheikh Hasina groups, he said: “We should not go into such details. We stand with Bangladesh, which is opposed to India, a country that is our enemy.”
He criticized India’s interventions in Bangladesh and said New Delhi’s involvement in local politics had created 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 that no one should be allowed to cross certain borders or insult uniformed personnel.
He said there were two perspectives on the case. “On the one hand, there is a view in their favor, but on the other, there is the view that they were repeatedly given opportunities, repeatedly told to conduct cross-examination, but repeatedly mocked and disrespected the court,” he said.
Sanaullah said he considered Mazari “like my sister or my daughter,” but added that “the form of expression and the attitude they have adopted insults the uniformed personnel, the people who are sacrificing 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 those boundaries and those who commit such acts should refrain from doing so.
Sanaullah said that if they had disagreements with the government, believed that judicial independence had been restricted or thought that Parliament had made the wrong amendment, “they are free to criticize the government, attack it with their comments and even use strong language if they wish.”
However, he added that “in the current circumstances, when we raise the funerals of martyrs every day, they should at least exercise some restraint.”
The prime minister’s aide said they should not post on social media against the institutions.
Sanaullah rejected the claim that they were denied the right to cross-examine in court and said the court was following due procedure. “If the court had not acted in this way, the cross-examination would have continued for years, the evidence would not have been completed 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 matter is concluded.”
