Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has rubbished Indian media’s claims of a potential terror threat against foreigners attending or participating in the Champions Trophy, saying that the country was “peacefully and very ably” hosting the mega cricketing event.

 

The minister’s remarks came after Indian media outlets claimed that an alert was issued by Pakistani intelligence agencies regarding a purported plot by “active covert groups” aimed at abducting foreign attendees for ransom.

 

Reacting to the claims, Tarar lambasted Indian propaganda “to politicise sports” and hit out at the neighbouring country that also did not send its team to Pakistan out of “security concerns”.

 

Speaking to a private media outlet, the info minister said that Pakistan was peacefully and very ably hosting the Champions Trophy. “Our grounds are full, we have fans from all over the world, the crowds are jubilant, our streets are filled with people who are celebrating the victory of cricket but the Indian media, which is a subservient media, is trying to do politics and is spreading propaganda against Pakistan.”

 

“This is unacceptable and totally untrue,” he said, stressing that Pakistan was one of the safest venues and the country had been able to conduct ICC matches very peacefully and efficiently.

 

He said that Indian media could not digest the fact that a major sports and ICC tournament was being held in Pakistan and they were extremely worried. "They tried to spread a lot of propaganda about this earlier as well and tried to sabotage the tournament through various excuses… so we think they are extremely pained by this."

 

Tarar recalled the match between England and Australia at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, which he had attended, and said that he could not find the words to describe the atmosphere and sentiment on the day as the stadium was packed with no place to stand.

 

“Not just Pakistan, there were a lot of fans from England and Australia and I met a lot of Britishers there. This was a victory for Pakistan that such a great match between England and Australia was held in a Pakistani sports ground,” he said.

 

“Their false propaganda of a low turnout died its own death. Now these false threat alerts that are being run are completely baseless, fake and concocted propaganda. The BCCI cannot stay without mixing sports with politics. They are extremists, fundamentalists and hardliners who attempt to mix sports with politics even in the sports grounds with their venomous propaganda.”

 

He also talked about reports that a New Zealand cricketer’s phone had been stolen, adding that resorting to such propaganda in an attempt to gain success could not be sustained.

 

“This is a very important moment for Pakistan and you will see the way cricket is being played in these grounds will be a victory for the citizens of the world and sports,” he said, adding that Indian propaganda will fall flat on its face.