- Rashid says terrorists would have snatched freedom of speech and expression had ISI or army not protected it
Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed Wednesday gave credit of “all types of freedom” to the Pakistan’s armed forces.
While talking to journalists after a cricket match for the blind held in the federal capital, he said, “Free media, free judiciary, free institutions and all the freedom that we enjoy today is because of our brave armed forces.”
The government’s spokesman also clarified that he had not used the term “ghulail walay [ones with a catapult]” for army or Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The minister said that terrorists would have snatched freedom of speech and expression had the army and ISI not been protecting it.
When asked if the government agreed with what Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had said about Geo News’ “irresponsible behavior”, the senator said that many people including Geo’s journalists were reiterating the stance Nisar had asserted. He said that the matter was sub judice in Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) whose decision should be awaited. He added that the government has nothing to do with the matter.
“We should introduce a culture of accepting institution’s decisions as PEMRA was an independent body,” Rasheed said.
Commenting on the electricity disconnection of national institutions earlier Tuesday, the minister said that Power Minister Abid Sher Ali was just doing his job and no one was above the law.
The senator said that the power minister had also disconnected electricity of his own office as well which reflected that no one was superior to rule of law.
To a question pertaining to dialogue process with the Taliban, he said that peace talks were heading in a positive direction and hoped that better results would come soon. The minister added there was decline in terror attacks which was a positive sign.