Addressing reporters at the Press Information Department (PID), the information minister accused PTI chief Imran Khan of stoking violence across the country.
Rashid claimed to have received ‘credible’ information that the PTI has been hiring insurgents in a bid to create mayhem in the capital on November 30.
In a veiled warning, the minister said, “Imran will be directly responsible for any untoward incidents that might occur on that day.”
He said that the PTI chief should hand over party workers to the police who attacked the PTV headquarters on the directives of the party chief. Imran Khan, he added, has been inciting people to violence through his speeches since August 14.
Rashid urged the PTI leader to adopt parliamentary politics to achieve his goals and quit ‘politics of provocation’.
Commenting on the upcoming PTI rally, the minister alleged that the party has been outsourcing terrorists trained in handling weapons, wooden clubs and cranes to wreak havoc in the capital.
Spelling out government’s strategy regarding the rally, the minister vowed strict actions against those who resort to violence.
“If it remains peaceful, the government will do nothing but if there is provocation of violence, the law will take its due course,” he warned.
After all the blistering remarks about the PTI, the minister, in a rather conciliatory tone went on to say that the government is still willing to hold talks with the party. He added that the government has accepted two demands made by the PTI chief, including the formation of a parliamentary panel on election reforms.
About the arrest warrants for PTI chief and cleric Tahirul Qadri over violence during the anti-government protests, the minister said that the government had nothing to do with it. He said the government did not want to arrest the PTI chief but warned that it would implement orders issued by the court.
Responding to a question about the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief, Rashid said that he has left Pakistan for the renewal of his Canadian passport which was about to expire. Heaping scorn on the PAT leader, he said that Qadri abandoned his workers for his Canadian citizenship.
Rashid ruled out Imran’s claim that he was sleeping when Pakistan Television headquarters in the federal capital was attacked, and went on to show clips of the PTI chief’s speeches to substantiate his claims.
Rashid said that both PTI and PAT leaders congratulated each other after the attack on PTV headquarters. Later Imran directed his ‘tigers’ (workers) to return back, he added.
The information minister also urged the PTI leader to let the people of Pakistan know if his party stands by the speech Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed delivered during PTI’s rally in Sahiwal, urging workers to set fire to state machinery on November 30.
Was Imran Khan sleeping when the AML leader made this statement or was he awake, the minister quipped.
On the Jehlum firing incident, he said the incident had nothing to do with PTI’s gathering, adding that it occurred on a different route and was far from the venue.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2014.
COMMENTS (13)
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@Fawad Gilani.........Pot calling the kettle black !!!!
Mr. Gilani, your family has broken all records in plundering the wealth of my beloved country, you should be ashamed....remember the Hajj, OGDC, NCL, etc scandal ???
@Sup: @Fawad Gilani: The Minister of Misinformation has spliced various news footage and made a rather poor job of it. Does any body seriously believe with great gullibility what he spouts.
First the use of ATC then interference of outsourcing of terror elements, then the unfortunate riddling with bullets of 8 or 9 people on their way to the jalsa in Jhelum.
Also sharing my own experience with your readers
My father is nearly 80 yrs of age, in the 2013 election he was casting his vote in Jhelum, he was approached by a PMLN worker enquiring for whom he had cast his vote, my father unfortunately told him the truth, that he voted for the bat, for which he received 3 or 4 of the best slaps from the bully, thankfully passers by put an end to his merciless beating of an old man, the very same old man that has taught me respect for elders, telling the truth and following the right path and respecting everybody else's view.
THIS IS WHAT THE NATION IS FACING, YEARS OF SUPPRESSION AT OUR RULERS' HANDS
Does anyone even trust what this guy says? only senseless reactive statements with weak body language.
All he do, holding his minister office, is to listen IK speeches and keep on preparing unreasonable answers which make no sense.
Laughing out Loud. This was the funniest news I heard in sometime, as if rest of the country is a toddler and he Rashid is teaching them how to walk!
Rashid, every kid is more educated than you are, you are not living in 1990s now.
I won't comment on His Highness's statement as he truely is PMLN's spokesperson. The mistake is of PTI whom has given PMLN a free hit in trying to ball a yorker. Now PMLN can place gun on PTI shoulder and try to bring Martial Law in Pakistan in order to save their face. PMLN we all know have contacts with banned organisations.
And Pervez Rashid should hand over whatever he has been smoking lately before his press conferences. I am sure that is what is really required in the PML N Pakistan so that we can never think straight.
Problem with PMLN and Nawaz Sharif is that they will not listen to the voice of Hunderds of Thousands of peaceful people who participated in PTI's public meetings. But will take notice of few people carrying out violence.This is not democracy.Therefore responsibility of people indulging in violence will be that of the PMLN government and not that of PTI.
Have the PMLN trolls ever thought why the common man would be incited in the first place? When you have bullies like PMLN and PPP as your government, a person can only bear so much...in this case three tenures each!
I paid Imran khan 27 billion rupees to do this. I dont need to prove it either (just like imran my accusation should be believed)
PML-N and its cartoons have totally lost the plot ... they just don't have any sensible thing to say, they are totally out of reasons and explanations. Go Nawaz Go !!!
Sharif brothers will use the last thing in their power i.e. brutality to hide their election rigging. They forgot that Allah is watching them also and they will be dealt with soon. Nature will take its course to get rid of these leaches. IK will continue his crusade against the election riggers.
Is this guy for real. The comments are so funny and un-educated.
PTI is a corrupt organization capable of anything.