LAHORE: A day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan threatened to launch a million-man strong long march on Islamabad while accusing the government of gross negligence during the May 11 elections, Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed took the pulpit to respond to the accusations.
“I was responsible for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s victory speech on the day of elections,” said Rasheed while replying to Imran’s accusations of PML-N jumping the gun on their victory announcement.
The information minister said the PML-N had won from 120 constituencies when he asked Nawaz to make a victory speech at 11:20pm on the day of the general elections.
Further, he went on to add that Imran’s allegations about appointments in the interim government were baseless since the Supreme Court appointed the interim prime minister and Pakistan People’s Party suggested the name of Najam Sethi for interim chief minister of Punjab.
“Sethi had appointed Pervez Elahi's people in the information department and home secretary, the two main departments but PML-N never complained,” said Rasheed.
The information minister went on to make a snide comment about PTI’s rallies, suggesting the PTI chief to spend money on IDPs in Waziristan instead of holding public rallies.
"Imran Khan himself has become the executioner and the judge," the information minister said.
On June 27, Imran hurled accusation at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and asked him to reveal the names of people who had arranged his victory speech on the night of May 11, 2013 when only 15% of the votes had been counted; who appointed Punjab caretaker chief minister Najam Sethi; who had rigged the polls and what role was played by former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and whether the returning officers were under the Election Commission.
COMMENTS (52)
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Imran and Qsdri are introducing violence and terror in politics. I think both of these politicians are un-educated.
Stock Exchange index was at 18000 points when PML-N came into power after May 2013 elections. It touched 29000 points within one year due to good policies of the government. Due to negative and dirty politics of Imran Khan, index is coming down now. It is sure that Imran does not want economy to prosper.
PTI was rejected in 2013 elections. It will again be rejected in next elections. PML(n) all the way.
Imran is continuously fooling the nation. He should not disturb the federal government that is elected by the public. PTI should focus on KPK that is suffering due to corruption of PTI ministers. There is nothing good in KPK.
Why Imran is threatening to Policemen who provide security to public rallies of PTI. Policemen have to stand for many hours in exteme weather just for the security. I condemn Imran's statement.
PTI is a party of illiterate people lead by an illiterate leader. Leader of PTI does not know how to talk. He is always busy in abusing others.
Thanks to Allah that I am not supporter of PTI. PTI is a group of badtameez politicians and their badtameez followers. They are always busy in making threats like Sultan Rahi.
Imran is continuously insulting those people who voted for PML-N. He is a greedy, selfish and Liar politician. He always tells lie in his speeches and interviews. PTI lost the elections because people voted for PML-N. This is the truth and this is the reality. Truth is always sour.
Rasheed looks like Gullu Butt and a slave of Sharif Dynasty, if people like him represent the country then green passport will be treated globally, worse than Nepal or Burma.
@Frank:
I want to ask the info minister pml-n is the judge, jury and excecutioner in Gen. Musharraf case why complain what you sow what you reap. Second thing is PML-N is the last person I will trust. They have no credibility in telling the truth. I am following since NS says there is no agreement deal. When the Saudi showed the deal then they say it is for 5 yrs.
When Imran Khan or TuQ take charge dont complain if they take you to court. You could not be able to buy the judge then. What will happen to you kalia?
Its because of your incompetence !
@Guddu: I don't know if I agree with your entire comment but I do agree that this is not the right time to create political furore and mayhem even though the current government has come to power through stolen mandate. We need to get behind our army and wait until the current operation against terrorist meets its objectives.
@Blithe: Please sir no offense, but the best way to neutralize IK would have been to accept the recount of the four constituencies he was demanding. IK was not a seasonal politician to begin with but the folly and sheer stupidity of the PMLN made him one. Let's not judge the events with a tainted vision.
A flawed rigged democracy can never lead to political stability.. Here's IK trying to clean the system from top to bottom.the only person in 65 years to lead anything like this..transparency and accountability.. And people call him an anarchist?pathetic sheeple!
All NS supporters-listen to yourself defending the corrupt regime and spendings on Metro projects. I hope ET is fair in printing these comments
Pakistani need this government to run for complete 5 years. Many projects for electricity generation have been set up that will need few years to complete. Imran feels fear that he will never be elected if Nawaz Sharif completes his term of 5 years. Imran's thinking is very undemocratic. Imran should respect the mandate of PML(N). He should wait till 2018 as his next defeat is due in 2018.
90 times requested for adjournment and still IK making noise through public meetings spending millions of rupees on worthless cause. Accepting Qadri's APC invitation, it is very clear that he want to destabilize the country. Javed Hashmi proved that he is not a dignified politician.
Where is that new KPK that was to be built by PTI in 90 days? More than a year has elapsed but no one can find new KPK. It is very easy to blame others. Imran can only blame and abuse others. On the other hand, PTIs performance is the poorest as compared to other provinces.
@Frank: Imran is fighting for himself. He is not fighting for me, you or any other person. His baseless struggle is the insult of those Pakistanis who voted for PML-n. No politician in Pakistan has ever accepted defeat in Pakistan. Same is being done by IK. Imran is doing the traditional politics of 90s. But this is 2014 now. If Imran really wants democracy, he should not disturb the federal government till 2018. At the same time, he should completely focus on KPK to make it a model province.
No sane man can vote for PTI that is led by Sultan Rahi of politics. He is continuously busy in giving threats to Judiciary, Election Commission, Election Tribunals, Federal Government and Policemen. I have never listened anything good from the mouth of Imran Khan. He always uses loose language for others. Imran should learn the ethics of communication.
@Osman: Privatised some shares, it is not a big deal, without privatisation you wouldn't have telephones in your house, you don't know how much you owe to PML-N's policies that they made in the 90s.
These were quite free and fair elections. Baseless criticism by PTI.
I am happy that everyone in my family who supported PTI is turning fast against the party. PTI is spreading hatred and divisions. In the end it will be PTI that will lose by siding with anti-democratic forces. PML(N) should keep marching ahead with their heads high and keep focusing on development.
I have voted for PMLN and honestly thought they would be best for the country given their experience. Boy, was I wrong! The condition has worsened, and they talk about political maturity, Imran Khan was the first one to visit and extensively leas the relief process for IDP's. Nawaz Sharif goes there after so long and announces some money and then goes back in his air conditioned BMW's with dogs guarding it back to his Raiwind Mansion. Those dogs and a single BMW alone is worth more than what he announced to donate combined. Shame on you PMLN, Pervez Rashid and Sharif family. You have privatized the government
@zubar: Very well put.....specially the Ex Honorable CJP.
@saleem khan: @faisal: @Nabeel Jaffar: Yes, we all were happy when it was AAZ or Mush era. no corruption etc. NS made motor-way - not for his son but people of Pakistan. If he is taking loan, its for our development, Very soon we will have metros in every city. Good its only few 100s in Thar who die and they die each year. No problem. See the development, despite defaults/showing lossing by Ittefaq mills each year, they became billioniare in USD whom even Forbes could not note. Lets eat siri paey and have nice sleep
Country is in the state of war. Our armed forces and government are busy in war while Imran is busy in point scoring. He has chosen very wrong time for politics. Present situation of the country demands unity among politicians but Imran is least concerned about Pakistan. He is concerned only about himself.
It is a fact that Imran Khan is playing a very bad role for Pakistan nowadays as directed to him by Establishment. His politics of agitation will leave bad impact on Pakistan’s economy. Stock Exchange has also been affected since the start of protests by PTI. Inflow of foreign investment in Pakistan will also be affected.
Has any party ever accepted defeat in Pakistan? Never. Same is done by PTI. No difference. No change.
All economic indicators in the country are improving. I appreciate the performance of present federal government during last one year. If this government continues for 5 years, it will be very good for Pakistan and democracy. I think thumbs should be up for the government.
IK, If you really want democracy , let this Govt work for 5 years, Also make your KPK Govt Model for other provinces.
Dear PML-N supporters, the elections were rigged and therefore the PML-N are not a legitimate government. They are usurpers. Are we supposed to just ignore this fact and carry on as though nothing as happened? Imran isn't 'doing politics', He is fighting for you, me, and all of Pakistan.
It's time to clean up the total mess that is Pakistani politics. And the first thing to go is the Sharif family.
Why funds of KPK being used in Punjab for arranging public rallies. It is dishonesty and corruption of PTI.
Guddu: I endorse you and appreciate your thinking.
This man always talks sense. I like the way he talks in very sober style. His arguments are very valid in reply to Imran's questions.
Imran's present politics of agitation can badly impact Pakistan's economy and war against terrorism. Imran should use his brain and avoid this dirty politics.
I think this man has very satisfactorily answered all queries of Imran Khan. Imran Khan has chosen very wrong time for doing politics. Country is fighting war against TTP and Imran is doing politics.
Only hope is greatest Nawaz Sharif. Allah save Pakistan from Tsunami.
100% agreed with Mr. Pervez Rasheed. Imran wants to destabilize Pakistan.
IK has threatened policemen and encouraging his followers to be miscreants.
Could he threaten threaten policemen there his children live , that is London and LA???
It's because of these anti-state leaders that we have ended being called a fragile state .
Imran should focus on the development of kpk rather than playing the blame game. Really disappointed in imran khan behavior. Was hoping he would prove to be different from other politicians but he just can't accept the reality and move forward. He should remember that pakistan is a developing economy and rigging in elections happens but he has a golden chance to focus all his resources on the people of kpk.
I voted for PTI and I love IK but I think Imran is losing plot here...he is blaming every one from judiciary to government to media...I don't know where PTI is heading and I m seriously concerned about their political moves now...all these rallies and allegations should be over now to make the nation united and to make the on going military offensive against militants successful
...and what did you do in Model Town?
Very rightly said Mr. information minister.Need of hour is political stability for economic growth and getting out of crisis over crisis this country faces.Public should not listen to mere rhetoric of some opposition parties uniting under the umbrella of Qadri.
The Minister Sahib had been sitting the rigging control room, he along with other masterminds of the theft should be brought to justice along with their benefactor Ex Honourable CJP Chaudhry Iftikhar
This person is not the information minister but the Propaganda Minister. Every time he opens his mouth, he spews out hatred and more and more lies.
It certainly looks as though Imran is going to execute PML-N. I heard the whole Sharif clan is suffering from insomnia these days.
Conflict of Interest laws' have one simple purpose - remove all suspicions. People of business with international business interests should be far away from politics. Top this with big time Dhandli and desire to turn their rule into Sharif Dynasty are all reason enough for people of Pakistan to be against them.