Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Friday said the government authorised to register a bogus First Information Report (FIR) of the Model Town incident even against the Prime Minister for the cause of peace. Talking to different television channels, he said the Prime Minister was abroad when the fateful incident took place in Model Town, Lahore on June 17.
He said the government showed maximum flexibility and restraint to find an amicable solution of the issues through dialogue. He thanked the general public for rejecting the politics of agitation and sit-ins, adding there was no justification and weight in arguments of the protesters. He said the government was making all out efforts to resolve the political issues through negotiations. Replying to a question, Pervaiz Rashid said the government did not ask any one to play the role of mediator and guarantor in the current situation.
Pakistan Army, he said, had been deployed under Article 245 of the Constitution to protect important buildings and sensitive installations located in the Federal Capital. Commenting on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), he said Imran Khan believed in media trial and baseless allegations against the government. He expressed amazement that PTI Chief Imran Khan, in his public meetings, announced judgement on his own by himself becoming applicant, advocate and judge.
The minister also criticised PTI chief for levelling baseless allegations against the government through certain elements. To another question, the minister said chiefs of PAT Tahirul Qadri and PTI Imran Khan themselves could explain as to why they wanted to meet the Chief of Army Staff.