Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani on Monday said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would interact with the lawyers' community in next few days to brief them on the government's viewpoint.
"Lawyers are most learned segment of the society. The highest government functionaries, including Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would soon interact with the lawyers to elaborate the government's viewpoint," he said while talking to reporters at a local hotel after hosting a luncheon in honour of the outgoing US ambassador Ryan C Crocker.
To a question on the strike call given by the opposition on Monday, the minister said the media was better judge whether or not the opposition's call for strike was successful. The opposition leaders would themselves be feeling disgraced while noticing the thin attendance of political workers in the demonstrations, he remarked.
"The masses have realised that it is a legal matter, which should be taken in the legal terms. The opposition leadership is also aware of the fact and that is the reason that they are not much active today," he added. Durrani said that he did not see any shops closed adding that masses had realised that the matter was legal and it had nothing to do with the politics.
On the arrest of the opposition leaders, he said, the government had a policy of not interrupting the peaceful demonstrations as the people had the right to hold peaceful protests saying that the local administration should follow the policy. The minister ruled out any remarks given by the United States of America about the return of former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
Earlier, paying rich tributes to Ryan C Crocker for his meritorious services in cementing the existing US-Pakistan ties, he said the outgoing ambassador had played a significant role in deepening the bilateral relations. Crocker discharged his diplomatic duties in such a manner that helped strengthen the bilateral cooperation in War on Terror, he observed.
The outgoing US ambassador, Ryan C Crocker said that Pakistan had developed significantly during the last few years. Refuting the reported US pressure on Pakistan regarding return of exiled politicians Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, the ambassador said there was 'no question' of any pressure.
"There is no question of any pressure. Democracy is in the interest of both the countries and the US supports strong and transparent democratic institutions in Pakistan," he recalled.
Secretary Health Syed Anwar Mehmood, Managing Director PTV Ashraf Azeem, Managing Director APP Fazalur Rehman Malik, Director General Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) Ashfaq Gondal, leading journalists and officials of the US Embassy also attended the luncheon.
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