General Bajwa was sweating, legs shaking uncontrollably: Pakistan MP on why IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was released

A Pakistan MP has revealed that Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released over fears of an attack by New Delhi. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq recently told the Parliament that the Army chief General Bajwa was sweating profusely and his legs were shaking when the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that India would have attacked “that night at 9 pm” if Pakistan did not release Abhinandan. 

“I remember Shah Mahmood Qureshi was in the meeting which Imran Khan had refused to attend and Chief of Army Staff General Bajwa came into the room, his legs were shaking and he was perspiring. Foreign Minister said for God’s sake let Abhinandan go, India’s about to attack Pakistan at 9 PM”, Sadiq recounted the events of the important meeting. 

Reacting to Sadiq’s remarks, Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said “there was no pressure on Pakistan at all regarding the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan.” 

“The Government of Pakistan took the decision as a gesture of peace, which was appreciated by the international community,” PTI quoted him as saying. 

The Wing Commander had landed on the other side of the border after an aerial dogfight following the Balakot airstrikes by New Delhi  last year. Before his jet was hit, Varthaman had downed an F-16 fighter of Pakistan. He was released on the night of March 1 by Pakistan. 

Sadiq, however, did not mention when the meeting between the top Pakistani officials were held. 

BJP chief J P Nadda has now hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of not believing in anything “Indian” and “mocking” the armed forces. 

Sharing a video clipping of the speech by the Pakistani leader, Nadda tweeted: “Congress’ princeling does not believe anything Indian, be it our Army, our Government, our Citizens. So, here is something from his ‘Most Trusted Nation’, Pakistan. Hopefully now he sees some light…” 

“Congress Party premised its entire campaign around keeping our armed forces weak. They mocked our armed forces, questioned their valour and tried every trick to ensure India doesn’t get latest Rafale Planes. The people India rejected such politics and punished Congress,” he tweeted.