Minister of State for Finance and Railways, Bilal Azhar Kayani, today visited the construction site of the 124-kilometer Lilla-Jhelum Road and received a briefing from FWO officials. On this occasion, he expressed commitment to completing this vital project within the next six months.
He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for allocating funds and other development projects for Jhelum, including the Lilla-Jhelum Road, stating that the road's construction will resolve a long-standing issue for millions of citizens.
Speaking to the media, Bilal Azhar Kayani launched a strong critique against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), asserting that the party is targeting the very army that brought victory to Pakistan against its enemies, and that the PTI and its founder are "speaking Modi's language." "Jhelum is the land of martyrs and veterans, and the nation regards its army as its honor," he emphasized.
Mr. Kayani alleged that a political party, under the guise of politics, is spreading an anti-Pakistan and anti-army narrative. He claimed that attempts were made to cause diplomatic harm to Pakistan through the Cipher and to bankrupt the economy, both of which failed. He further stated that PTI is attacking the state in the name of politics, and "no patriot can use the language that PTI and its founder are using."
The Minister of State said that currently, "poison is being spread against Pakistan and the armed forces from PTI accounts," and the PTI founder's Twitter account continues its persistent anti-state, anti-Pakistan, and anti-army campaign. He demanded that PTI leaders clarify whether they stand with Pakistan or with the founder's anti-national ideology.
Bilal Azhar Kayani lauded the military, saying, "Our army has proven that it desires peace but also knows how to win a war." He credited the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for Pakistan's successes on the defense, diplomatic, and economic fronts.
He described the continuous targeting of Pakistan's brave army—which won the war against India—and its martyrs by the PTI and its founder as regrettable. He also pointed out that PTI supporters lying abroad are facing fines and punishments. He labeled PTI’s actions as an anti-national ideology, citing examples such as digging graves at D-Chowk, attacking PTV and military installations on May 9, and using Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's government machinery against the federation and its own country.
Bilal Azhar Kayani concluded by reaffirming the current government's commitment to swiftly complete the Lilla-Jhelum Road to end the severe hardship faced by the public due to the road being dug up during the PTI tenure.
Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani also visited the house of PML-N MNA Chaudhry Farrukh Altaf to offer condolences and recite Fatiha on the passing of his mother, who was also the wife of the late former Governor of Punjab, Chaudhry Altaf Hussain.
