Asad Umar lashes out at Maryam Nawaz after Pak vs NZ tragedy

Federal Minister for Development, Planning, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar (left) and PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz. — PTI/Reuters/File

Asad Umar, the Federal Minister for Development, Planning, and Special Initiatives went after PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz for criticizing Prime Minister Imran Khan over the cancellation of the Pakistan-New Zealand series.

"I will receive green passport respect," Maryam Nawaz tweeted, slamming Prime Minister Imran Khan hours after the visit was canceled due to a "security alert" in New Zealand.

Umar slammed Maryam, saying it had been days since she made a remark that would have reassured "Pakistan's adversaries in India."

"The enemies of Pakistan will no doubt be pleased to read your remark and will be delighted that your position is unchanged — the one that anti-Pakistani groups want to hear," Umar added.

Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed had remarked in a news conference in Islamabad in response to the trip cancellation that the New Zealand authorities do not have substantive proof of threat in Pakistan.

Despite the country's strong security measures for the squad, New Zealand took a unilateral decision to cancel the Pakistan visit, according to the interior minister.

"The tour has been canceled due to a conspiracy theory. This is an issue for them [New Zealand]. The National Crises Management Cell and other organizations sought to persuade them, but the New Zealand government made a choice on its own "he stated