News
Monday, December 02, 2013
PTI should stop politicking on foreign policy: minister* Pervaiz Rashid says PTI pursuing a dual policy regarding US, NATO
* Advises PTI leaders to avoid ‘hypocrisy’ in national interest
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid said on Sunday there should be no politicking on foreign policy and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should rise above its party politics.
Speaking in Islamabad, he said the PTI was pursuing a dual policy regarding the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
The stance taken by PTI leaders while being abroad was different from one they adopted here in public, he said and added that such hypocrisy was not in the national interest as it gave the world a message that Pakistanis were a confused nation. He advised PTI leaders to avoid “hypocrisy” in the larger national interest.
He said halting and searching NATO trucks by PTI workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could not be termed a correct action. The PTI leadership had failed to guide and rein in its workers, he said and added non-state actors could not be allowed to run the state affairs.
He said the main leadership of PTI, including its chairman, was absent in the sit-ins against drone strikes. Even in the FIR against drone attacks, the PTI has not nominated any particular person as accused, the minister said.
He said that the government was serious in resolving the drone issue, adding that it had highlighted the issue at the United Nations and also taken up it with the United States.
He said urban planning projects were ongoing in KP with the help of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and dollars were flowing in the province.
According to Pervaiz Rashid, there should be no muscle flexing on national issues and instead negotiations should be preferred for their resolution.
To a question, he said the government did not want confrontation with any country as it was not in Pakistan’s interest. “We want cordial relations with Afghanistan and other neighbouring countries,” he added.
He urged regional countries to join hands for alleviating poverty, hunger, undernourishment and unemployment.
About missing persons, he said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been pursuing their case. The Supreme Court wanted missing persons back at home and the PML-N government also desired the same.
To another question, Pervaiz Rashid said that Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan Ordinance would be approved from parliament with consensus of opposition. He said the ordinance would help curb unlawful activities in the country.
He said a smooth democratic system was functional in the country. The elected government was making appointments on key posts according to the book, he added.
Lauding the services of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, he said the CJP had played a vital role in strengthening democracy in the country.
To a question, he said the prices of potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetables were declining. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk