Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Friday said that the appointment of new chief of army staff was prerogative of the chief executive of the country who would take the decision on November 28.
Speaking at a reception hosted in his hounor by the Parliamentary Reporters Association, he said it was an important post and speculations were not in national interest. The minister said the government would welcome criticism and difference of opinion that proved helpful in making right and correct decisions.
He said in the past, Press Gallery used to be a regular feature in English newspapers but now some Urdu dailies have also started publication of Press Galley column which was a positive development. The minister said the government would provide facilities in the Press Gallery of the parliament, so that they could perform their professional duties in a better and efficient manner. To a question, he said he was in favour of live coverage of proceedings of the parliament. He recalled that when he used to be chairman of the Pakistan Television Corporation, live coverage of question hour was done.
He said the government was mulling to launch a special TV channel for live coverage of parliamentary proceedings.
To a question about talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, he said there were media reports but the government had not yet received any signal about the change of TTP’s stance on dialogue. The government would wait for direct response from the TTP in this regard, he added.
He said no third party could create hurdles in case both the Pakistan government and the TTP leadership showed sincerity about the dialogue process.
Pervaiz Rashid said due to busy schedule, the prime minister sometimes could not attend the National Assembly proceedings but his team of ministers was always available in the House.
He said whenever needed, the prime minister would come to attend the assembly session. He said the government was committed to implementing the new Wage Board Award after its constitution.
About increase in prices of daily-use items, he said the government inherited a ruined economy and had to pay Rs 600 billion as circular debt and the IMF loan installment. Moreover, there was 245 billion budgetary deficit by the previous government and it also failed to meet tax collection targets, he added.
He said the present government had not taken any decision which could have negative impact on the economy. He said after coming into power, the government had to fight on three fronts including terrorism, energy and Karachi law and order situation.
He said on the issue of fight against terrorism, the government’s efforts were known to all, while the Karachi situation had improved in recent past though achievement of 100 per cent results would take some time.
On energy issue, the prime minister chairs weekly meeting and he was given update in this regard, he added.
On a question about Pervez Musharraf, he said there was a lot of difference between release on bail and acquittal. He said he could not comment on his bails but his name had been put on the Exit Control List (ECL) as the issue of his trial under Article 6 of the constitution was still pending.
He said Pakistan’s nuclear programme was totally indigenous and funded from the national resources and developed by Pakistani scientists. The news of foreign funding were baseless, he added. He said in Karachi people were happy after the improvement in law and order situation but so far nobody could claim that situation had returned to normalcy.
About the NATO supplies, he said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister was an intelligent person and hoped that he would not indulge in any activity which was not under his purview.
Prices of vegetables were linked with demand and supply and their prices would come down with the improvement on supply side, he added.
He said there was complete coordination between civil and military leadership, adding that completion of term by the previous government, general elections in May, transfer of power and presidential elections were its manifestations.
Pervaiz Rashid said that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had reopened some cases and the government would provide all details to the courts.
He said local the government elections would be held as per directives of the Supreme Court.
Same bongo bongo press talks. Same promises. Same suply and demands. Same PM buzi. Same blaiming that previous govt ruined the economy. He added. He said.
This leads one to conclude that the list of 15 demands made public by the media a day earlier was probably correct. On Sunday Maulana Abdul Aziz, another member of the Samiul Haq committee
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