K-P thanks PTI as PML-N mocks ‘peace march’
Kaira says if Imran Khan will hold talks with Taliban, government would support him in this regard.
PESHAWAR:
In what appears to be a change of heart, the government on Sunday insisted it provided “foolproof” security to Imran Khan’s ‘Peace March’ saying that no hurdles were created for the rally.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the provincial government had provided security to the PTI and appreciated the party’s cooperation with the government for holding a “successful rally”.
“The Peace March was a good initiative for a good cause for which Imran Khan has taken the credit. But if the march has been successful, it’s also because of the democratic government,” the minister told a news conference.
Rejecting claims that the government tried to create hurdles for the rally, he said: “We could have stopped them at the entry point into the province”.
He revealed that the PTI was given special jammers and special police squads which led Imran to provide him with security.
Asked about the containers placed on various check-posts, he said that “those containers were not placed for blocking the rally but to use as security measures if the rally turned violent.”
Kaira sings the same song
Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira reiterated the belief that the government had not stopped anyone from participating in PTI’s Peace March, insisting that elaborated security measures were taken to protect the participants.
Kaira said Imran Khan should hold talks with the Taliban on the issue of terrorism and the government would support him in this regard. “The entire Pakistani nation wants to end terrorism from the country,” he said while denying reports that the government tried to impede the rally.
“The government has only told Imran of the law and order situation in Waziristan,” the minister held.
Criticism
Criticising PTI’s march, PML-N Secretary General Zafar Iqbal Jhagra said: “Imran Khan’s march was not an expression of solidarity with the people of Waziristan but was political point-scoring.”
Punjab Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah said Imran had just used the name of Waziristan, and it seemed he was on a picnic journey.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed Imran a “western agent”, claiming that the PTI wanted to destroy Pakistan by injecting “Western thoughts” in it.
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AGENCIES)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2012.
In what appears to be a change of heart, the government on Sunday insisted it provided “foolproof” security to Imran Khan’s ‘Peace March’ saying that no hurdles were created for the rally.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the provincial government had provided security to the PTI and appreciated the party’s cooperation with the government for holding a “successful rally”.
“The Peace March was a good initiative for a good cause for which Imran Khan has taken the credit. But if the march has been successful, it’s also because of the democratic government,” the minister told a news conference.
Rejecting claims that the government tried to create hurdles for the rally, he said: “We could have stopped them at the entry point into the province”.
He revealed that the PTI was given special jammers and special police squads which led Imran to provide him with security.
Asked about the containers placed on various check-posts, he said that “those containers were not placed for blocking the rally but to use as security measures if the rally turned violent.”
Kaira sings the same song
Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira reiterated the belief that the government had not stopped anyone from participating in PTI’s Peace March, insisting that elaborated security measures were taken to protect the participants.
Kaira said Imran Khan should hold talks with the Taliban on the issue of terrorism and the government would support him in this regard. “The entire Pakistani nation wants to end terrorism from the country,” he said while denying reports that the government tried to impede the rally.
“The government has only told Imran of the law and order situation in Waziristan,” the minister held.
Criticism
Criticising PTI’s march, PML-N Secretary General Zafar Iqbal Jhagra said: “Imran Khan’s march was not an expression of solidarity with the people of Waziristan but was political point-scoring.”
Punjab Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah said Imran had just used the name of Waziristan, and it seemed he was on a picnic journey.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed Imran a “western agent”, claiming that the PTI wanted to destroy Pakistan by injecting “Western thoughts” in it.
(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AGENCIES)
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2012.