*Says Khan should name 14 people who were allegedly killed in Police-protesters clashes and their bodies ‘concealed’
*Says Khan has opportunity to prove allegations as Urdu Bazar printer has moved court against PTI chief for alleging that he was involved in printing ballots to facilitate poll rigging
*Says Khan welcomes court’s decision to grant bail to his workers but criticises judiciary when it fails to substantiate his rigging allegations
*Alleges Khan led ‘gangsters’ to release ‘vandals’ from police custody
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid Tuesday claimed that both protesting leaders in Islamabad concoct new lies and hurl new allegations three times a day when they address their party workers from their containers.
“Azadi Khan has turned out to be Ilzam Khan while his cousin has become Intishar,” said Rasheed, referring to the protesting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Dr Tahirul Qadri at a news conference.
LET US KNOW WHO THE 14 VICTIMS ARE:
Regarding Khan’s “latest” allegation that 17 bodies of those killed during clashes with police on Constitution Avenue on August 30 and August 31 have been concealed in PIMS Hospital, Rashid said that Qadri has only mentioned three deaths in an FIR submitted Monday.
“Who are these 14 people that Khan is talking about? Where are their heirs?” asked Rasheed, suggesting that the PTI chief identify the 14 ‘dead’ people when he addresses the participants of the sit-in later in the day.
KHAN GETS A CHANCE TO PROVE ALLEGATIONS IN COURT:
Rashid said that Khan is leveling baseless allegations on daily basis but is unable to prove his claims in courts.
Rasheed said that Khan alleges that 2013 General Elections were rigged and additional ballot papers were printed from Urdu Bazar. He said that the printer against whom Khan leveled allegations of facilitating electoral rigging has announced to move court against Khan.
“This is the best opportunity for Khan to prove his claims in the court of law,” said Rasheed.
He said that Khan is leveling allegations against former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry, a former army chief and an intelligence agency brigadier and claims that “a speech” changed the election results.
“But PTI’s negotiating team is not incorporating these allegations in terms of reference of the proposed judicial commission to probe rigging allegations despite the government’s negotiating team’s insistence to do so,” he said.
“Khan welcomes the court’s decision to grant bail to his workers but criticises the judiciary when it fails to substantiate his rigging allegations.”
The information minister expressed regret that on one hand Khan expressed his disassociation with those who ransacked Parliament House and Pakistan Television Headquarters but on the other hand he himself led “gangsters” to get the “vandals” released from police custody.
“Governments are formed on the basis of the people’s mandate and not on the criterion of who gathers more people at a place,” said Rasheed, adding that people have rejected Khan’s call for civil disobedience by “giving more taxes and sending more money to Pakistan from abroad through official channels”.
Rasheed said that the government is aware of the London conspiracy but respected the appeals of the civil society and allowed Khan and Qadri to lead long marches to Islamabad.
“Why did Khan conceal his London meeting with Tahirul Qadri and also the meetings between the two held in Pakistan?” asked Rasheed.
Replying to a question, the information minister said that the government handled a political issue politically and avoided the use of “administrative tactics” to expose the real face of Khan before the people of Pakistan.
