Ideological debate: Dictatorship ruins, democracy salvages nations: minister

Pervaiz Rashid expresses shock over PTI chief’s desire for a good dictator.

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said on Friday that democracy salvages nations while dictatorships have always ruined them.

Talking to the media after attending a seminar on interfaith harmony, the minister said that he was surprised to know that PTI Chairman Imran Khan has stated that Pakistan could not have a good dictator who could have transformed the nation.

The minister said the entire world knows that dictatorships have destroyed many countries and Germany under Hitler and Iraq under Saddam Hussein were two such examples.

He asked Imran to tell as to who was good dictator Hitler, Mussolini, Saddam or General Franco?

Pervaiz Rashid reminded that Pakistan was also dismembered during a dictatorship. He said that Imran used to be a supporter of a dictator and canvassed for him during the so-called referendum.

Earlier, addressing the seminar he said that Pakistan would soon become a peaceful and tolerant country and launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb was the starting point of that process.

The minister said that in the past people of all religions and sects lived peacefully in Pakistan, but after the start of first Afghan war, hatred and intolerance started creeping in society.

“Name of religion was used by certain powers to win a war in our neighbourhood and curricula were changed at the behest of those powers,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2015.