LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid on Saturday said the government will take Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan into confidence on likely military operation against Taliban militants.
Speaking to media representatives after a seminar on “Decline and Restoration of Film Industry” at a private university here, he said Imran Khan would be included in all kinds of consultations.
Replying to a query, Rashid said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif believed in the supremacy of law, adding that the government’s writ will be established on every inch of the country.
The foreign hand involved in prevailing unrest in the country will be eliminated, once the government succeeded in bringing the people involved in subversive acts to the right path, he said responding a question on the role of foreign elements in terrorist acts.
The information minister said the government was determined to tackle all internal challenges by all means.
Regarding treason case against former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, he said Musharraf was physically fit, but he had lost his ability to make decisions. He was in trouble because of his own strategies.
“The hospital has proved a blind alley for him. If Musharraf comes out, he faces the court while inside the hospital he will be operated and stitched by doctors,” he said.
The dictator will have to face the law, he added.
About Musharraf's possible exile, he said the law and the constitution were supreme and equal for all. “There is no room in the law that a culprit could leave the country without being tried,” he added.
About the meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI), he said it was convened as per democratic traditions, in which all the provinces shared their views and discussed matters like census.
Replying to a question, the minister said the idea for convening an all parties conference on price hike was uncalled for as the government was fully aware of its responsibilities.
All the issues being faced by the nation would be discussed in the forthcoming session of the National Assembly, he added.
“All the institutions perform their roles as per the policy of government and work within their constitutional limits,” he said.
Earlier speaking at the seminar, the minister said setting up cinema houses should be made compulsory in housing societies, besides other recreational spots.
“The cinema industry has been given tax exemption and the government is planning to offer more incentives to cinema houses,” he added.
He stressed the need to hand over a painting brush to a child instead of a gun for establishing a peaceful society. Policies of the government would transform Pakistan into a welfare state, he added.
‘Govt favours dialogue but not with bombers’
Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said the government supports dialogue with those who are willing for it but not with the bombers.
Speaking to the media at PR Stadium here, he said the government strategy was clear on dialogue and it would not talk to those who wanted to kill innocent people in bomb blasts.
He said the government could not remain silent on target killings or bomb blasts and the security forces would respond in the same manner to any attack.
“Musharraf should face the judiciary and law,” said the minister while answering a question regarding the treason trial being faced by the former military ruler.
To a question on statements by Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawar Hassan and Imran khan, he said that they should have told terrorists to stop killing innocent people in suicide bombings instead of urging the government to start dialogue as the government wanted dialogue with dignity and respect.