ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on Sunday that the deadline given by PTI and PAT leadership was for the democracy, not the government.
He said that in the Constitution there was no mention that the governments can be overthrown, or brought to power through invading the capital city of the country, or by mob pressure.
Talking to various TV channels, he said that the deadline given by PTI and PAT leadership was to the democracy, and not to the government. He said that these people have adopted undemocratic way to register their protest.
He said that 35 members of the Parliament and five to ten thousand participants of so-called sit-ins cannot overthrow popularly elected government.
Senator Pervaiz Rashid said that the government was trying to resolve the issues through dialogue and discussion and it was in contact with political leadership. He said that long marchers came to Islamabad after talks and democratic forces were trying to mediate for ending the sit-ins.
He said strangely these people are in favour of holding talks with terrorists but were not ready to settle issues with the democratically elected government.
The minister said that in Pakistan there were institutions where complaints about electoral irregularities could be registered. Moreover PTI was part of the Parliament where all issues could be raised and resolved amicably.
He said that Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri were trying to create anarchy in the country as the court has already declared their demand unconstitutional. He further said that now difference between democratic forces and undemocratic forces has become very clear.
Minister for Information Pervaiz Rashid said that Capital administration extended full cooperation to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and it was still in touch with the party so that no breach of contract takes place.
He said that the government was following the policy of restraint and reconciliation and wanted to resolve all
issues through dialogue.
He said that the government was still in contact with PTI adding that Imran Khan had told Jamat-e-Islami's chief Siraj-ul-Haq that he would postpone his 'Azadi March' if recounting on 10 seats is held.
He said the government tried its best to avoid the current situation and formed a high-level parliamentary committee to prepare a comprehensive plan to ensure transparent elections in the country.
The minister said that Pakistan Army was with the Constitution of Pakistan. He said that there was no provision in the Constitution that the Prime Minister should resign under any mob pressure.
The minister said that they accepted the right of protest of the PTI and PAT leadership and allowed them to start their long marches. He said that both Imran and Qadri had promised to stay at the designated places and not to cross the line. He said that the government also allowed the marchers to come on the advice of various political parties.
Pervaiz Rashid said that there is no provision in the Constitution for forcing one's opinion through power and aggression. He said that the government would hold talks with PAT and PTI only under the parameters of the Constitution. He informed that the government was in touch with all the parties in the Parliament, especially those supporting democracy.
He said that reformation of electoral system was also part of PML-N's strategy. To a question he said that Imran Khan wanted to play the role of the player and the umpire at the same time.
He said that the PML-N participated in the long march for restoration of superior judiciary and they returned when they were told about the reinstatement of judges in Gujranwala.
While revealing facts about the four constituencies in question, he said that how can PML-N candidate organise rigging while he stood third in Jehangir Tareen's constituency with 40,000 less votes than Tareen.
In Saad Rafiq constituency, Hamid Khan of PTI sought 11 adjournments, which shows his level of seriousness.
Likewise, about Sardar Ayaz Sadiq's constituency, he said that Imran Khan also was not serious to pursue the case. Moreover, he said it was not the government's job to get decisions from the Election Tribunals forcefully.
He said that PML-N leadership did not have any issue of ego and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has demonstrated this by visiting Imran Khan twice. First when he was in hospital after falling from the stage before elections and second time the Prime Minister visited his Banigala residence.
The minister said that reports that participants of the sit-ins were marching towards Red Zone were incorrect.