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.

Rashid terms elements meeting in London politically jobless

LAHORE: Information Minister Pervez Rashid said on Saturday that those meeting in London were politically jobless people, in an obvious reference to Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Muslim League-Q leaders.

Speaking to media, he said that remnants of Musharraf were trying to bring together dear ones of the former military dictator. He said one of those would not secure a place in parliament while the other will not be able to become an opposition in the parliament.

“These people are luring Imran Khan into their cage but he is scared of making an entry as he seems only revolving around the cage so far,” the minister said.

No tensions among institutions, says Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that national institutions are standing with those who talk with reason, adding that the prime minister himself visited Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir in the hospital to enquire about his health.

“We should see with whom the civil society, politicians and the government are standing. They are standing with those who talk with reason and not with those who use arms,” said Rashid while talking to media here Tuesday.

During his talk with the media, the information minister also dispelled the impression of tension between the government and the military.

He said that all state institutions are playing their role under the parameters set by the constitution due to which, he said, no institution opposed any matter on the national agenda in the last five years.

Replying to a question over shifting of Pervez Musharraf to Karachi, Rashid said that grip of law is everywhere in the country.

To another query regarding peace talks, the minister replied that deadlock in talks with the Taliban is part of the negotiation process. Negotiations are moving forward, he added.

No tensions among institutions, says Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that national institutions are standing with those who talk with reason, adding that the prime minister himself visited Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir in the hospital to enquire about his health.

“We should see with whom the civil society, politicians and the government are standing. They are standing with those who talk with reason and not with those who use arms,” said Rashid while talking to media here Tuesday.

During his talk with the media, the information minister also dispelled the impression of tension between the government and the military.

He said that all state institutions are playing their role under the parameters set by the constitution due to which, he said, no institution opposed any matter on the national agenda in the last five years.

Replying to a question over shifting of Pervez Musharraf to Karachi, Rashid said that grip of law is everywhere in the country.

To another query regarding peace talks, the minister replied that deadlock in talks with the Taliban is part of the negotiation process. Negotiations are moving forward, he added.

Kasuri lied to gain attention of Musharraf, claims Rashid

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ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has refuted Ahmed Raza Kasuri's claim that the government attempted to lure Pervez Musharraf with a secret deal to stay away from the country for a period of five years.

"Ahmed Raza Kasuri tried to gain attention of former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf by telling a lie," Rashid claimed.

The minister further said that the government made no offer to Musharraf, claiming that the former president ousted Kasuri from his defence counsel team that is why he lied to gain the attention of Musharraf.

Earlier, Kasuri had said that Musharraf was offered to sign a 5-year bond and not return till the date of its expiration.

However, he went on to say that his Musharraf turned down the deal of secret agreement.