LAHORE:
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid
on Saturday said that the Pakistan People’s Party wanted to give
indemnity to former president Pervez Musharraf but the Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz (PML-N) blocked the move.
Talking to the media here, the minister said the PML N leadership never conceded to the PPP’s demand of indemnity to a former dictator and it had never been a part of any deal. “We have not greeted Musharraf in his medicine of violence like handcuffs and exile as he forced Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to exile twice,” the minister said.
Pervaiz Rashid said lawlessness had been the rule in the dictatorial regimes while the law takes its due course in a democracy, adding the courts would decide the fate of Pervez Musharraf.
The information minister said that this year’s Independence Day will be marked by a central ceremony at the D Chowk to tell the world that the nation is united under one flag.
Only the national flag will flutter high on August 14 and all other flags would be at half mast as the entire political leadership will be invited to the national ceremony to mark solidarity unity and oneness, he said.
He said the whole nation would sing the national anthem together on August 14, adding that all would be free afterwards to follow their heart’s desire.
Regarding Imran Khan’s call for the August 14 D-Chowk rally, Pervaiz Rashid said Imran Khan should not send a message on Independence Day that the political leadership was divided at a time when the armed forces were busy in an operation in North Waziristan for the security of the country, and a message of unity must be sent to all.
Imran Khan should not weaken Pakistan’s bunkers within Pakistan as the politics of the street may lead to instability and be beneficial to the terrorists, Pervaiz Rashid stressed.
To a query, he said Arsalan Iftikhar was at daggers drawn with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after the PTI chairman’s provocative speech against his father (former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry) at Bahawalpur, adding that there is always an Arsalan Iftikhar for every Imran Khan in the world.
To a question, the information minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was awarded one percent more funds under the NFC Award to the provinces for the war against terror, adding that it would get Rs22 billion extra under the NFC and this amount should be used by the KP government for food and shelter of the IDPs. He said the KP government should also account for Rs80 billion paid by the federal government under the NFC for the same purpose during the past four years.
About the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the federal minister Pemra has written to all cable operators regarding the issue of placement of channels and it has to wait for 15 days for the implementation of its instructions as per the law.
To a query regarding consultation with politicians, the minister said the passage of Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan Bill was made possible through consultation with the all political parties and the government has no inhibition to contact any political party in the larger interest of the country, adding that the doors are always open for all political forces. To a question, he said the Pakistan Army had been playing its due rule for peace, adding that the armed forces and democratic institutions have been helping the affected people of North Waziristan.
He said the mischief makers against the armed forces will lick the dust, adding that the powers to the forces are in line with the Constitution of the country and all-out resources and legal umbrella will be provided to them.
Regarding the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri, the minister said Dr Qadri was known for his political somersaults, adding that the PAT chief made a similar attempt against democracy last year as well. He said Tahirul Qadri had deserted his followers in the lap of pneumonia last year and flown to foreign lands on a cosy business class seat.
To a question, the minister said the duration of loadshedding will be cut to the minimum every year, adding that the power transmission lines could not bear the extra power load and the government has decided to set up a separate company to strengthen power transmission lines in the country. — Agencies
Our correspondent adds: Meanwhile, speaking at a discussion, held at the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma), PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira has disclosed that the issue of getting rid of Pervez Musharraf was raised by Mian Nawaz Sharif when Asif Ali Zardari had gone to his place to offer condolences over the death of his father.
Kaira said Zardari told Nawaz Sharif that getting rid of Musharraf was not possible as he enjoyed powers under 58-2b as well as the support of the military and various global powers. Zardari proposed amendments to 58-2b before proceeding with any such plan, said Kaira.
He said the PPP government had contacted all parties, the PML-N and Awami National Party (ANP), to discuss the issue. Every party was on the same page and they all gave their consent for letting Pervez Musharraf go so that the country could move forward on the democratic path. He said a political crisis and a tussle among the state institutions started when the PML-N government backtracked on its understanding over the issue.
About the Pakistan Protection Ordinance, Kaira expressed his reservations and said the law had all the ingredients that could be exploited for political victimisation. Such actions would drag the country back three decades and the progress made regarding the politics of negotiation and consensus would be lost.
He said the Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Tahirul Qadri talks about bringing a revolution in the country and it is his right like any other Pakistani. However, he asked how he is going to bring about a revolution given he represents only one faction of the nation. He said it is difficult to assume that a majority of the people in the country identify themselves with his ideological premise.
Talking to the media here, the minister said the PML N leadership never conceded to the PPP’s demand of indemnity to a former dictator and it had never been a part of any deal. “We have not greeted Musharraf in his medicine of violence like handcuffs and exile as he forced Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to exile twice,” the minister said.
Pervaiz Rashid said lawlessness had been the rule in the dictatorial regimes while the law takes its due course in a democracy, adding the courts would decide the fate of Pervez Musharraf.
The information minister said that this year’s Independence Day will be marked by a central ceremony at the D Chowk to tell the world that the nation is united under one flag.
Only the national flag will flutter high on August 14 and all other flags would be at half mast as the entire political leadership will be invited to the national ceremony to mark solidarity unity and oneness, he said.
He said the whole nation would sing the national anthem together on August 14, adding that all would be free afterwards to follow their heart’s desire.
Regarding Imran Khan’s call for the August 14 D-Chowk rally, Pervaiz Rashid said Imran Khan should not send a message on Independence Day that the political leadership was divided at a time when the armed forces were busy in an operation in North Waziristan for the security of the country, and a message of unity must be sent to all.
Imran Khan should not weaken Pakistan’s bunkers within Pakistan as the politics of the street may lead to instability and be beneficial to the terrorists, Pervaiz Rashid stressed.
To a query, he said Arsalan Iftikhar was at daggers drawn with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after the PTI chairman’s provocative speech against his father (former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry) at Bahawalpur, adding that there is always an Arsalan Iftikhar for every Imran Khan in the world.
To a question, the information minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was awarded one percent more funds under the NFC Award to the provinces for the war against terror, adding that it would get Rs22 billion extra under the NFC and this amount should be used by the KP government for food and shelter of the IDPs. He said the KP government should also account for Rs80 billion paid by the federal government under the NFC for the same purpose during the past four years.
About the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), the federal minister Pemra has written to all cable operators regarding the issue of placement of channels and it has to wait for 15 days for the implementation of its instructions as per the law.
To a query regarding consultation with politicians, the minister said the passage of Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan Bill was made possible through consultation with the all political parties and the government has no inhibition to contact any political party in the larger interest of the country, adding that the doors are always open for all political forces. To a question, he said the Pakistan Army had been playing its due rule for peace, adding that the armed forces and democratic institutions have been helping the affected people of North Waziristan.
He said the mischief makers against the armed forces will lick the dust, adding that the powers to the forces are in line with the Constitution of the country and all-out resources and legal umbrella will be provided to them.
Regarding the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri, the minister said Dr Qadri was known for his political somersaults, adding that the PAT chief made a similar attempt against democracy last year as well. He said Tahirul Qadri had deserted his followers in the lap of pneumonia last year and flown to foreign lands on a cosy business class seat.
To a question, the minister said the duration of loadshedding will be cut to the minimum every year, adding that the power transmission lines could not bear the extra power load and the government has decided to set up a separate company to strengthen power transmission lines in the country. — Agencies
Our correspondent adds: Meanwhile, speaking at a discussion, held at the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma), PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira has disclosed that the issue of getting rid of Pervez Musharraf was raised by Mian Nawaz Sharif when Asif Ali Zardari had gone to his place to offer condolences over the death of his father.
Kaira said Zardari told Nawaz Sharif that getting rid of Musharraf was not possible as he enjoyed powers under 58-2b as well as the support of the military and various global powers. Zardari proposed amendments to 58-2b before proceeding with any such plan, said Kaira.
He said the PPP government had contacted all parties, the PML-N and Awami National Party (ANP), to discuss the issue. Every party was on the same page and they all gave their consent for letting Pervez Musharraf go so that the country could move forward on the democratic path. He said a political crisis and a tussle among the state institutions started when the PML-N government backtracked on its understanding over the issue.
About the Pakistan Protection Ordinance, Kaira expressed his reservations and said the law had all the ingredients that could be exploited for political victimisation. Such actions would drag the country back three decades and the progress made regarding the politics of negotiation and consensus would be lost.
He said the Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Tahirul Qadri talks about bringing a revolution in the country and it is his right like any other Pakistani. However, he asked how he is going to bring about a revolution given he represents only one faction of the nation. He said it is difficult to assume that a majority of the people in the country identify themselves with his ideological premise.
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