Pervaiz Rashid blames PTI for 'chaos', assures arrest of shooter

Information minister says spreading anarchy was the sole objective of Imran’s ‘Plan C'

ISLAMABAD: While refuting media reports and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s claim that a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz worker fatally shot dead a PTI worker at their protest in Faisalabad earlier today, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid assured the shooter would be arrested.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Monday in response to PTI’s ongoing shutdown in Faisalabad as part of their ‘Plan C’, Rashid blamed PTI chairman Imran Khan for creating chaos in the country.

“Spreading anarchy was the sole objective of Imran’s ‘Plan C’,” he censured.

Imran had threatened a countrywide shutdown on December 18 and in major cities of Lahore, Karachi and Faisalabad if his longstanding demand for an independent audit of the May 2013 elections was not accepted.

Taking a jibe at the PTI chairman for dominating his party’s decisions, the information minister said, “When residents of Faisalabad announced they would not participate in the PTI shutdown, PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi claimed they would protest peacefully.” Rashid continued that Imran, however, “gave him a shut up call” like he had done earlier on the issue of negotiations with the government.

Urging the PTI chairman to take responsibility for the chaos his workers caused in Faisalabad today, Rashid said, “Tomorrow, you (Imran) will say nothing happened in Faisalabad and say you never asked them (your workers) to do this, just as you take back your words everyday.”

The minister warned that such events would repeat in Lahore as well, where the PTI has called for a shutdown on December 15.

Further, he requested the PTI to take up the matter and his grievances in court, instead of aggravating the situation.

“Because of you (PTI), Pakistan’s economy has suffered immensely,” Rashid said, adding, “Industries in Faisalabad are preparing for Christmas orders worldwide, and the government ensured they have gas and electricity to meet the demand but you shut them down.”

“After looking at what is going on in Faisalabad on TV today, will people give us orders? No, they will give orders to countries where there is no Imran Khan.”

Further, he questioned why the PTI chairman hasn't 'shutdown' the country his children live in.

Shifting his focus to the deceased worker, the information minister assured, “Those responsible will be arrested.”

“Three teams have been formed by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to arrest the man who was seen firing,” he said.