News
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Govt says PTI to be responsible if aid blocked over drone protests* Information minister says party staking national interest to win seats in LG polls
ISLAMABAD: Referring to the continued blockade of NATO supply by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid has said that the PTI is putting national interest on stake only to win some seats of councillors in the local government elections.
While talking to media and addressing a ceremony arranged by the Ministry of Law and Justice in connection with the International Day of Human Rights, Pervez Rasheed said, “If international aid is blocked due to demonstrations against NATO supply, then demonstrators will be responsible for this act.”
The information minister stated that Imran Khan talks against NATO supply in the day but has dinners with foreign diplomats at night. “Those people who are now talking against drone attacks, will make the drones their darlings after just one dinner,” Pervez Rasheed commented. He said NATO supply is going through the country under international agreements, and denied US has warned of stopping aid as a result of the blocking of NATO supply.
Praising the role of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the information minister said the CJP has played a vital and strong role for the strengthening of judiciary and continuity of democracy, which the nation will always remember. He said the role of Justice Iftikhar would be written in golden words in history, and assured that the government will implement all decisions of the Supreme Court (SC), including that in the case of missing persons.
Pervez Rashid said the government will obey all international agreements regarding human rights; however media, civil society and every individual of society should also play their role in this regard. “Provision of basic human rights and their safety is a challenge, which the government has accepted and it will fulfil its commitment.” Under Article 25-A, the minister said, the federal government has made education until matric free, while legislation in this regard is also under process on the provincial level. He also said the government is the guarantor of rights of minorities in the country, and noted that it is also forming the Hindu-Christian marriage act with the assistance of minorities.
Replying to a query the information minister stated that the PML-N has come to power as a result of elections, not through the back door. He denied expansion of federal cabinet. online
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk