Rahat’s fine was reduced because of our govt: Malik

ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik said that Rahat
Fateh Ali Khan was originally fined Rs 20 million but the amount was reduced to Rs 1.5 million on the request of Pakistan’s government. He was talking to the media outside the Parliament House on Wednesday.
“Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is our star and we had to help him. The Indian government reduced the fine amount from Rs 20 million to Rs 1.5 million on the request of Pakistan government,” Malik said. He, however, cautioned Pakistanis living abroad that they should make transactions through banks and amounts transacted through hawala will be seized as was done during the case of Kalia.
When asked about the deadline of PML-N, Malik said that deadlines were not given in politics and only dialogues were held to evolve consensus over contentious issues. He also said that PML-N should avoid giving deadlines and work with the government to steer the country out of crisis.
“In politics deadlines are not given, only negotiations are held to reach consensus. And I appeal to PML-N and other parties as well, that there should not be politics of deadlines. Some issues cannot be met or resolved within a few days,” Malik said adding the government, per decision of the leadership, was having talks with PML-N to evolve consensus.
When asked about a question concerning Raymond Davis, Malik refused to answer saying the matter was sub judice and the prime minister had already made a policy statement in that regard. He also added that he avoided making statements about the issue of the US national as his previous statements had been misinterpreted.
Answering another question, interior minister said that law and order situation in the country had improved a lot and now explosions were not taking place as frequently as they had been happening previously.
When asked about measures to curtail human smuggling from Pakistan to other countries, Malik said it was not a Pakistan specific phenomenon but it was global issue and the ministry of interior had formed a task force in that regard. When also added that other nations had right to deport illegal immigrants.