No room for politicking on Model Town incident, says Pervaiz Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Sunday said there should be no politicking on the Model Town incident which was actually a human tragedy.

Talking to various news channels here, the minister said certain elements were only doing politics on human bodies as they had no other issue. He assured that those involved in the Model Town tragedy would be brought to book at all costs. “The Punjab government had asked its law minister to tender resignation to ensure a free and fair inquiry into the incident,” he added.

The minister questioned if Pervaiz Elahi had asked his brother (Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain), the-then interior minister, to resign after the Lal Masjid incident. He said most of the APC leaders did not believe in law and the Constitution.

“They want disruption and violence to create anarchy in the country. Did they ever demand resignation from Musharraf after the Lal Masjid and May 12 2007 tragedies?”He said there was no harm in reconstitution of the judicial commission probing the Model Town incident if the law permitted but he believed the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) would still continue to protest as it was their sole objective.

“The government will implement the recommendations of the judicial commission in letter and spirit while a joint investigation team is also working,” he added.To a question about meeting with former president Asif Ali Zardari, he said meetings among politicians and with political leadership were a routine matter. He said Asif Zardari was an ex-president and the head of the country’s largest opposition political party. He, however, added that no formal schedule had been finalised for such a meeting with Zardari.

Pervaiz Rashid said the government was providing all the necessary support to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan.He said the government was fully cognizant of the problems of IDPs adding that all required facilities were being provided to the people who had left their homes due to the ongoing North Waziristan operation launched to flush out terrorists.

Ideological HQs of terrorists all over country: Pervaiz

 

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid said on Sunday that the military headquarters of terrorists were in North Waziristan but their ideological headquarters were all over the country and it was the responsibility of the political forces to eliminate the same.
He said the army was eliminating the military headquarter of the terrorists while thedemocratic forces were responsible for eliminating their ideological headquarters.Speaking in Geo TV’s special transmission “Jang Se Aman Tak”, he said the debate on who was responsible for the failure of the talks with Taliban was misplaced. He said this war was not against the government’s opponents but enemies of the state.

Well-known anchor Salim Safi hosted the programme in which PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said both the government and the Taliban were responsible for the failure of the talks, though the government shouldered more responsibility.

He said the members of the government committee had admitted that their consultation process was slow. He said everybody in the dialogue committees was playing politics. He said the talks could have resolved the issue of terrorism but they were short of time.

ANP leader Afsaryab Khatak said the success of the talks process was doubtful from the day one. He said there was no one from the government in the government committee and no one from the Taliban in the Taliban committee to talk out the issue.

MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi said the Taliban were responsible for the failure of the talks as they continued carrying out attacks on Pakistanis during the talks process. JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah said the establishment held the key to the success of the talks. He said those who had the authority did not let the talks succeed.JI leader Amirul Azeem said the government was responsible for the failure of the talks. He said the Taliban wanted to talk but the government did not.

Law will decide Qadri’s return, says Pervaiz

RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Information Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Tuesday said PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri had come to Pakistan of his own free will but he will not be able to leave Pakistan now on his own.
Talking to media persons after visiting the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital where scores of wounded cops are under treatment, the minister said: “Now Tahirul Qadri will return to Canada only after the law’s nod”. He was flanked by local PML-N leaders and legislators.

He said former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf had also come to Pakistan of his own free will but now he could not fly out as the law had not allowed him to do so.The minister was visibly perturbed over the violence unleashed by the supporters of Dr. Qadri on police personnel. He said the way the cops were subjected to aggression by what he called the ‘Ghundas’ of Tahirul Qadri had no parallel in history.

Senator Rashid claimed that the private parts of police officers and constables were targeted by the supporters of Tahirul Qadri on his (Qadri’s) direction.Praising the media for objectively showing the events on Monday, the minister said people could better decide who exactly had resorted to vandalism.

“Is this the revolution he is talking about and wants to bring to Pakistan,” he asked. “By creating a law and order situation, Tahirul Qadri wanted to divert the nation’s attention from the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation against terrorists in North Waziristan, but he would not succeed in achieving what he had planned for.”

Tahirul Qadri, he alleged, had been inciting his followers to violence for the last few weeks and what was witnessed on Monday was before everyone — cops received head injuries and their arms and legs were broken by his hooligans. The minister said around 100 cops were wounded in the violence.

The DHQ Hospital received a total of 35 injured policemen. The minister said PAT activists, on the directives of Dr. Tahirul Qadri, broke the arms and legs of policemen on duty. He further said the attackers would have to face the consequences in accordance with the law.

Referring to the activities of PAT activists in Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the minister said a new type of terrorism was being imported to Pakistan and “we will deal with it like we are dealing with terrorists in North Waziristan”.

He said the nation should receive the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) migrating from North Waziristan as guests. “Serving IDPs is our duty,” said the minister.The minister made it clear that the armed forces were producing 100 per cent results with regard to the elimination of terrorists and the entire nation stood behind them.About the reports of the plight of the Internally-Displaced Persons of North Waziristan Agency, Senator Rashid said the government would take good care of them.

Order to arrest Qadri’s activists not issued: Pervaiz

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid said on Sunday that the government had not directed the law enforcement agencies to arrest activists of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) and that no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands.
He said that Tahirul Qadri wanted chaos in the country, media reported. In a statement, he said by doing so Tahirul Qadri wanted to disunite the nation and intended to extend unrest in the country. Pervaiz Rashid said Qadri could not survive under democratic rule so he wanted to weaken democracy.

The minister said that Qadri was part and parcel of the regime which had conducted the most rigged elections and referendum of 2002. Talking about the IDPs issue, he said that the government would utilise all available resources to address the sufferings of the affected people of North Waziristan.

The information minister said that all the departments concerned were in direct contact to look after the affected people. He said that Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch, governor and chief secretary were regularly holding meetings for the purpose.

Pervaiz Rashid said the federal and the provincial governments were in coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Fata Disaster Management Authority to facilitate the displaced people. He said the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would not leave the affected people of North Waziristan alone.

The information minister said Imran Khan had failed to express solidarity with the affected people of Thar and Awaran. He said the prime minister had visited Thar and Awaran to mitigate the sufferings of the affected people.Pervaiz Rashid said Imran Khan did not demand the resignation from the provincial government when five hundred terrorists fled Dera Ismail Khan jail.

PTI’s ‘Naya Pakistan’ invisible in KP budget: Pervaiz

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf’s (PTI) ‘Naya Pakistan’ is invisible in the budget in their domain as it does not reflect their proclaimed vision, Minister for Information and Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said.

In a statement on Sunday, he said that the figures had been tampered with and fudged to cover a Rs41 billion shortfall in the budget to make it appear as a balanced budget.The minister said that 71 percent of the total budget would be spent on salaries, leaving merely 29 percent for development that was very little for development in the province.

The PTI should have curtailed its administrative and non-development expenditure to spend the money on the welfare of the common people, Senator Pervaiz Rashid suggested. He said that another contradiction of the PTI appeared by accepting foreign aid from USAID, Britain and Germany against their claims of not going to the United States and their actions of staging protests and road blockades against US/Nato.

“It is not a tax-free budget as tax has been imposed on professionals and other categories,” he added.“So where is the relief for the common man? For the first time in the history of Pakistan, property tax has been extended to the rural areas and villages in this budget of KP,” he said.

“Is this the ‘Naya Pakistan’ vision of the PTI leadership?” The minister questioned.He said that KP had spent only 50 percent of its current budget and the remaining amount was re-appropriated in June in the last month of the financial year to the district of KP chief minister, Nowshera, the district of the Speaker, Swabi, and the district of the finance minister, Dir, which was against the slogans of fairness and transparency of the PTI.

Senator Pervaiz Rashid said that the PTI criticised the PML-N for the Metro Bus Project, terming the Rs40 billion project a ‘Jangla Bus’, but the KP government was planning to spend Rs230 billion on it for a small city like Peshawar. “Is it not a mega scandal in the making?” He asked.

“Where are the claims of Imran Khan to turn every hospital in KP into Shaukat Khanam? Why has the Chamber of Commerce in Peshawar placed on its building a huge banner stating, Save Peshawar? Why are traders, industrialists, doctors and others leaving Peshawar?”

The senator asked many questions from the PTI: why have the salaries of the chief minister, cabinet ministers and others been doubled with 100 percent increase including house rent which was Rs70,000 as compared to the salaries of the government employees which had been increased only by 10 percent?

Why did the PTI government waste most of the financial year as the first development project was initiated in February 2014? “A token amount of Rs200 million had been earmarked for the Urban Transport System, what happened to the Nano Train of Imran Khan? I hope Imran Khan will come up with answers of these questions in his next public gathering,” Parvaiz Rashid said.

Govt can’t interfere in Altaf issue: Pervaiz

 

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said that the government cannot intervene in the issue of the MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s arrest as the UK has its own laws relevant to the matter.
Addressing the concluding session of the first parliamentary conference on Millennium Development Goals and later talking to media persons, Pervaiz Rashid said the moment when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif heard about the arrest of the MQM chief, he directed the Pakistani counsellor in the UK to extend moral and legal assistance in this regard.

The minister hoped that the MQM leadership would play a key role to bring the situation in Karachi back to normality. He added that Altaf Hussain was ill and everyone was concerned about his illness.

Denouncing the statement by Aitzaz Ahsan, the minister said the government extended full support to the issue of a passport and identity card to Altaf Hussain. He asked why the PPP government did not give Altaf Hussain a passport and an identity card during its five-year tenure, and added that it was not good to criticise the present government baselessly.

He said that people should not make such statements that might provoke violence in Karachi. He noted that Aitzaz Ahsan should understand that if the situation in Karachi worsened, it would create problems for their government in the province.

He said that first Dr Tahirul Qadri confined himself to a warm container and left the people to suffer from pneumonia and now Dr Qadri had the intention to call the people for a second time. But now the people would not be victimised by his cruelty.

PPI adds: Pervaiz Rashid said the government is against terrorists and stands firmly with the institutions of national security.He paid rich tributes to the army officers and Jawans who sacrificed their lives in two terrorist attacks. He said the sacrifices of the personnel of national security institutions would always be remembered.

The minister said it was a unanimous decision of the nation to oppose terrorism and stand by the national security institutions.To a question, he said the strategy made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to address the menace of terrorism was being implemented by national security institutions.

He said this strategy was successful and its outcome would help make Pakistan a peaceful and secure country.He said the government would do in the case of Altaf Hussain what it does for any Pakistani facing any difficulty in any part of the globe.

Pervaiz Rashid said it was everyone’s responsibility to help secure Karachi. He said no one sitting in Islamabad should try to create problems in Karachi especially when its consequences could be negative for the opposition as well.He said all those who have some influence in Karachi should play their role to defuse the situation in the city.

He said Imran Khan listened to the address of President Mamnoon Hussain to the joint session of the parliament with interest. “This shows he believes in the parliamentary system,” he added.

‘Jobless politicians’ want to lure Imran into cage: Pervaiz

LAHORE: In an obvious reference to the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid on Saturday said those meeting in London were politically jobless people and they were luring Imran Khan into their cage.

Speaking to media persons here, he said the remnants of Musharraf were trying to bring together the associates of the former military dictator.

“These people are luring Imran Khan into their cage but he is scared of entering it,” the minister said.

Downplaying Friday’s meeting between Qadri and the Chaudhry brothers in London, the minister said: “It is a waste of time to comment on Dr Qadri and the Chaudhry brothers meeting. One can never enter parliament while the other cannot become an opposition,” he observed.

He said Imran had become isolated politically that’s why he was relying on rejected elements like the Chaudhrys of Gujrat and a Canadian national Tahirul Qadri.

To a question, he said Sheikh Rasheed was a ticket-less passenger, who would be checked by Khawaja Saad Rafique.

The information minister said the government would decide on the removal of Musharraf’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) after the court ruling.

The minister said Imran Khan had no idea of national politics and wanted to fight with those the government was holding talks. He said Imran was obsessed with the issue of four constituencies. He said Imran had not mentioned the Kashmir issue in his speeches or public rallies yet.

No reason to close channel if it apologises: Pervaiz

 

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on Thursday that there was no justification for shutting down a channel and if it had made a mistake, realised it and tendered an apology, it should be accepted. He said that it was advisable to follow the policy of live and let others live (Geo or Jeenay do).
He said the media-related issue would be resolved amicably soon as in the given situation, the issue was not of Geo but of the freedom of expression in a democratic society.

He stated this in an informal chat with media persons after he visited, along with members of the family, the residence of senior journalist Hamid Mir to inquire after him.

The minister recalled how he had resisted when the Supreme Court registrar had pushed for the banning of another TV channel and he had the same policy now that no television channel should go off the air.

About the speculation of the ban on Geo channels, the minister said, “The issue is not of Geo, it is about the freedom of expression in a democratic society and we have bigger issues in our country and all have to find a solution together.”

In this context, he referred to the challenges of terrorism, issues of economy, energy crisis and education and health of children. With regard to the situation arising from the Geo issue, the minister urged the media to bring an end to the infighting.

He confirmed having met representatives of different media organisations, including APNS, CPNE and PBA and his meetings with heads of media groups: Hameed Haroon, Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, Mian Amir, Zuberi and Mujeebur Rehman Shami.

Asked for his views on the law ministry’s opinion on the issue, he said his ministry had sent its views on the matter to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

“Pemra is an independent institution and let it decide about the issue in its meeting. Neither I nor anyone else should try to dictate it,” the minister maintained.Earlier, the minister, along with his spouse and children, met the bedridden journalist at his residence and remained with him for some time.

“I, along with my family, met Hamid Mir and his family. It was a family get-together. Mir’s health is much better than it was when I met him in Karachi earlier.” Rashid expressed his gratitude to the journalist for gifting him his book and said he felt honoured on receiving the gift signed by Hamid Mir. The book consists of Mir’s columns.

Imran should wait for next polls, not short-cuts: Pervaiz

LAHORE: Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan should wait for the next general elections instead of taking short-cuts.

In an interview, he said that the protests of the PTI and Awami Tehreek were no more than a storm in a teacup and they would not succeed in their efforts. He said that the protest of Imran Khan was the manifestation of his disappointment over his party’s failure to deliver in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

He added that Khan raised the issues of talks with the Taliban and the drone attacks for political gains but when he did not achieve his target in this way, he came up with the old issue of alleged rigging in the polls.

On the rally of Dr Tahirul Qadri to be held on May 11, Rashid said that Dr Qadri, who talked of the the people, would lead the “Canada Rally” on the day.The information minister remarked that Dr Qadri did not accept the Constitution and the democratic system but Imran Khan was walking shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

He said the government would not hinder the peaceful protest but if any of the political parties resorted to any illegal activity, the law would take its due course.He said that to hold a protest was the legal right of every political party, but it should be carried out within the limits stated by the Constitution and the law.

Gone are the days when media was muzzled: Pervaiz

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, said on Friday gone were the days when the freedom of the media was stifled.

Speaking at a function here under the aegis of the Rawalpindi- Islamabad Photo Journalist Association, the minister said that today politics and journalism had entered an era that was known for the rule of law and Pakistan was identified as a civilised and democratic state.

About the events unfolding in the wake of an assault on a prominent media person Hamid Mir, he said it was a welcome development that those feeling affected had adopted a legal course and filed a complaint with Pemra.The minister maintained the incumbent government did not believe in politics of confrontation.

Pemra assures restoration of Geo News telecasts: Pervaiz

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rasheed has said that he talked to the Chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Pervaiz Rathore regarding the closure of Geo News in parts of the country and the Pemra chief had assured him that he would take steps for the restoration of telecast of Geo News.

The minister, in a statement issued here on Thursday, strongly regretted the closure of Geo News broadcast, hurdles in circulation of ‘The News’ and ‘Jang’ in some parts of Pakistan.“The news of closing the broadcast of Geo News, changing its position on cable and hurdles in the circulation of ‘The News’ and ‘Jang’ in some parts of the country is highly regrettable,” the minister said.

Those nurtured under dictatorship should seek new jobs: Pervaiz

 

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, on Friday said those who were nurtured under dictatorship should seek new jobs.
Talking to media persons here, he said all the state institutions, including the army, were bound to act within the ambit of the Constitution. He noted that certain elements, who thrived during the stint of dictators, were trying to spread rumours.

The minister said there had been no demand from the army for the removal of any minister, adding that there was no other thinking in the army except the defence of Pakistan.He said the entire nation was grateful to the armed forces for their sacrifices for the country and noted these would always be remembered.

About the trial of former military ruler General Musharraf, the minister said that the decision regarding Musharraf would be made by the judiciary and it would be acceptable to all.He claimed things had considerably improved during the last eight months and now every morning started with the dollar value going down and the launch of major projects.

Pervaiz said that consumers paying their bills would definitely get electricity.Online/APP add: Pervaiz Rasheed said no patriotic person could point fingers at the army. To a question, the minister said the economy had strengthened due to the positive policies of the government.

He said the government was committed to ridding the country of the energy crisis and inflation and to making the country a cradle of peace and stability.He said that “in the past we used to hear bad news like bomb blasts and terrorist attacks everyday but for the last few months good news have been coming.”

He said there were good news like stock exchange improvement, appreciation of rupee against the dollar, setting up of power generation plants and starting of construction work of new public transport system. Moreover, he said that the entire world now wanted to strengthen their relations with Pakistan and invest here, which was a big change.

He said that the Lok Virsa festival had been organised to bring cultures and civilisations of all the regions of the country under one roof. He said artists, singers and artisans participating in the Lok Mela were representing the real cultural values of the country. “They express their feelings through colours, words, music, etc,” he added.

Beacon of talks has been lit: Pervaiz

LAHORE: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid said on Saturday that the government has lighted the beacon of holding dialogue on issues, adding that soon there would be peace in the country.

Talking to media persons after visiting the residence of journalist Raza Rumi, who narrowly escaped in a gun attack on Friday, Pervaiz Rashid said the State and the law will have to be strengthened to an extent that the terrorists could not escape from the law. “In the given situation, we will have to do away with the blame game and join hands to fight against the terrorists,” he said.

“State, politics, judiciary, journalism and business are the same things and all will have to join hands against terrorism,” he said. The minister said the Punjab IGP was conducting inquiry into the attack on Raza Rumi. He said the culprits behind the attack will be brought to the book. He said the government was making all out efforts to ensure safety and security of journalists.

Bangladesh should remove ban on waving flags: Pervaiz

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Information, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, said on Wednesday that the Bangladesh government should remove the ban on local cricket fans flying flags of other countries during the World Twenty20.

He said sports should be free from politics and banning spectators from bringing flags of any country was unfortunate.“Spectators express their feelings on the grounds and if they cannot support their favourite teams and players, then they should be asked to watch matches at home on TV channels,” the minister said in an informal chat with media persons after attending a function on the “Launch of the Media Commission Report” here at a local hotel.

To a question, Pervaiz Rashid said Pakistan was not becoming part of any proxy war as the government was following the policy of non-interference in the affairs of other countries. He said Pakistan would never interfere in any other country’s internal matters and at the same time would not allow any other country to interfere in its own internal affairs.

Pervaiz Rashid conceded that some elements were trying to defame Pakistan by spreading baseless rumours and noted that the armed forces’ responsibility was to protect the integrity of the country and foil any foreign aggression and they were doing their professional duties befittingly.

To another question, the minister said neither any country had asked for the Pakistan Army’s deployment nor the government was sending any troops to any country. He said the armed forces were here to perform their constitutional duties.

Regarding the talks with the Taliban, he said the government team holding the talks with the TTP was fully empowered. About the foreign policy, he said the PML-N had a track record of improving relations with neighbours.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has a vision on foreign policy and since his first term as prime minister, he has been trying to improve relations with all neighbours,” he pointed out.

To a question on the Metro Bus Project in Rawalpindi, the minister said there were many critics of the Motorway project but when it became operational, everyone praised it. Similarly, he said, the Metro Bus Project would silence its critics after its completion. The minister maintained that all civilised countries provided the latest transport facilities to its masses. He said the Pakistan government wanted to do the same and its criticism was uncalled for.

When asked about noted media person Najam Sethi’s appointment as chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pervaiz Rashid said he was a good administrator and the national team’s performance had improved after his appointment.

Earlier, speaking at the function, the minister said journalists were a vibrant part of the society and the government acknowledged its responsibility to provide them a safe and secure environment.

He said that all the issues related to the security and welfare of the journalists community were being handled with full conviction. “The prime minister is also taking personal interest in the welfare and protection of journalists,” he said.

“The purpose of the formation of the media commission is to prepare a report on which government, public media, experts and civil society members may debate on transparency, accountability and progress of our media,” he said.

The minister, on this occasion, congratulated the Media Commission team on drafting a comprehensive and effective report including reformative actions by media owners, practitioners and journalists.

Pervaiz Rashid said the government had announced the constitution of a commission comprising media persons, public figures and government representatives that would propose measures to be adopted by the government to protect journalists in the field and ensure their well-being.

“We are committed to make Pakistan a journalist-friendly country where not only local but also international media feels safe and secure during their professional assignments,” he said.

The minister contended that the Media Commission was of the view that it was possible to facilitate and ensure freedom of print and electronic media and all efforts must be made by public and private media houses, broadcasters, talk show moderators and all working journalists to adopt media codes and ethics.

“Now Pakistan has entered into the age where politics has attained maturity,” the minister said, adding that democracy had become functional, media has gained immense freedom, civil society has become dynamic and a unique culture of political tolerance has come in vogue.

The minister claimed that all these characteristics were non-existent in the past. “In the past, media freedom was suppressed by authoritarian regimes and now democracy is promoting the freedom of expression,” he said.

He said the commission had proposed its recommendations and now responsibility of implementing them rested with the media sector itself and the government. He said the PML-N government was firmly committed to ensuring the freedom of the media and facilitating journalists and media practitioners in pursuit of their professional duties.

Noted media experts Ziauddin and Javed Jabbar also spoke on the occasion while Marvi Memon, who heads the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, threw light on her committee’s initiatives with regards to the media and welfare of journalists.

Armed forces personnel may be booked for torture: Pervaiz

LAHORE: Information and Broadcasting Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that according to the amended law, a First Information Report (FIR) can also be registered against the armed forces personnel under the torture allegations.

Addressing a regional conference, organised here under the auspices of the Democratic Commission for Human Development (DCHD), the minister said the democratic government of Pakistan Muslim League-N was opposed to any type of torture.

The Constitution of Pakistan barred from all types of human rights violations. He admitted that police torture was a reality but the Fair Trial Article of the 18th Amendment provides protection from torture, the minister said.He said that the conference recommendations would provide a guideline to the government to do legislation to end all types of torture in the country.

Govt to provide every help to drought-affected people: Pervaiz

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid has said that federal government will extend every possible help to drought-affected people of Thar.
In a statement, he said helicopters have been provided for the assistance of the affected people. Pervaiz Rashid said the Prime Minister will visit Thar tomorrow cancelling all his engagements.
He said long-term measures are also being taken to help the people of Thar. The Minister said Thar is part of Pakistan and it is our obligation to help the people of the area.