Rashid says Khan is inciting people to violence

• Info minister alleges PTI, PAT sit-ins have adversely affected economy, urges protesting parties to ‘mend ways’ for sake of national interest
• Says govt making sincere efforts for talks but Khan is adamantly demanding resignation

Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan incited people to violence and attacks which is not a service to Pakistan.

Talking to the journalists in Lahore on Sunday, Rashid said that staging protests and sit-ins is the beauty of a democratic system but no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands at any cost. He said that all political parties have the right to hold peaceful public meetings but asked politicians not to adopt the path of violence for the sake of change.

‘GOVT CAN USE FORCE TOO’:

The minister said that slogans were being raised against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and pointed out that similar reaction could be shown by the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) workers.

“The government has demonstrated patience at every level and always welcomed positive criticism as it believes in upholding democratic norms. PML-N does not allow politics of violence and believes in freedom of expression,” said the minister.

“The path of violence would not lead the nation anywhere,” he said.

The minister alleged that PTI activists attacked the Parliament House, Pakistan Secretariat, Prime Minister’s House and Pakistan Television buildings, which was a sheer violation of the law.

“Islamabad Police was unarmed and it was only provided rubber bullets,” said Rashid in response to a question, while rejecting the allegations leveled by PTI that bullets were used to disperse the protesters in Islamabad.

‘KHAN ISN’T INTERESTED IN TALKS’:

Stressing the need for resolving the conflicts in the society through talks, Rashid said that every political party having representation in the Parliament must come to the highest public forum to express its views in line with the democratic norms.

“The government is making sincere efforts to resolve the current political impasse through dialogue.”

The government had also announced a Judicial Commission of the Supreme Court to look into allegations of election rigging and had also set up a Parliamentary Electoral Reforms Committee to improve the existing electoral system, said Rashid.

“But Khan is not showing seriousness in taking the talks forward and has continuously vetoed PTI’s negotiating team,” said Rashid adding that the PTI is repeatedly raising the “unconstitutional” demand for PM’s resignation.

“Now the government has left Khan to himself,” he said.

The protests by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and PTI have significantly dented the national economy, the minister alleged, calling on the leaders of the protesting parties to mend their ways in national interest.

Responding to a question, the minister ruled out the possibility of early elections saying, “The government will complete its five-year constitutional term as it enjoys the mandate of the people.”