No conspiracy to topple Punjab govt

KARACHI - Federal Minister for Information Ms Sherry Rehman has dismissed the impression that there was any effort to destabilise the PML-N government in Punjab and said that it was the policy of the PPP government to strengthen democratic institutions and promote democracy. "In a democratic system, people have the right to disagree and to debate but we appreciate all democratic political forces", she said while responding to queries of newsmen at a "Meet the Press Programme" organised by Karachi Press Club here on Wednesday. The Federal Information Minister said that Pakistan was facing multiple crises because certain forces in the region did not want to see stable Pakistan and were involved in creating tension. However, democratic forces wanted peace so it was the responsibility of media to strengthen these forces. It was positive a signal that certain quarter wants peace, she added. Sherry further said the government wanted to root out terrorism from the country keeping in view the long-term interests of Pakistan. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, she said, had sacrificed her life because she was fighting for the elimination of terrorism and for the restoration of democracy. We are striving hard to fulfil the mission of our Shaheed leader, she pledged. Sherry continued the government was working to repulse those forces which were bent upon lowering the national flag so that they can hoist their own in its place. She disagreed with a questioner that India had handed over any list regarding the Mumbai incident saying that it was a hypothetical theory, which has no weight. She said the government has taken initiative against non-state actors while implementing on the UN resolution. The Minister added that Chief of Interpol had exonerated Pakistan from all allegations that it had connection with such activities or with the perpetrators of terrorism. Responding to a question regarding operation in tribal areas, Sherry said "we are committed to the policy of dialogue but will not tolerate any challenge to the writ of the government. Pakistani soil will not be used for any act of terrorism." To another query about Balochistan, she said that the province has suffered due to longstanding sense of deprivation and, while acknowledging this fact the PPP government had started the process of collective apologies. She said the government was trying to bring the people of Balochistan into the mainstream politics. The problems of masses would be resolved and the province would get the benefits of its resources. Keeping in view all these factors, she said, representation has been given to Balochistan in the federal cabinet and the Parliament so that more and more rights could be given to the people of that province. She, however, said that operation was carrying out in those areas where the writ of government was challenged. When asked when would the murderers of Benazir Bhutto be arrested, Sherry said the process to bring the murders to book had already been started. "We want that the investigation into the murder of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto should be carried out at the international level because the she was the leader of an international stature. The Minister said that PPP government has come into power due to sacrifice of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and was trying to bring a political revolution in the country. She said pursuing policies of the Shaheed leader, the government has adopted the strategy of dialogue and reconciliation and wanted to bring all democratic forces together to steer the country out of multiple crises, which it inherited from previous governments. Earlier, President Press Club, Imtiaz Khan Faran and Secretary A.H Khanzada welcomed the federal minister on her arrival at the KPC.

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