ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on Sunday there should be no politicking on the Model Town incident, which was actually a human tragedy.
The participants of so-called all parties conference (APC) on the issue were the remnants of dictator Pervez Musharraf and creating problems in the country to save him, he said while talking to various news channels. The minister said they were only doing politics on dead bodies as they had no other issue.
He assured that those involved in the Model Town tragedy would be brought to book at all costs. The Punjab government asked its law minister to tender resignation to ensure a free and fair inquiry into the incident, he added.
The minister questioned that whether Pervez Elahi asked his brother (Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain), the then interior minister, to resign after Lal Masjid incident.
He said most of the APC leaders did not believe in law and the constitution. They wanted disruption and violence to create anarchical situation in the country.
"Did they ever demand a resignation from Musharraf, the then president, after Lal Masjid and May 12, 2007 tragedies?" he asked.
He said there was no harm in reconstitution of the judicial commission probing the Model Town incident, if law permitted, but he believed that the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) would continue protest as this was their sole objective.
The government would implement the recommendations of the judicial commission in letter and spirit, while a joint investigation team was also working, he added.
To a question about meeting with former president Asif Ali Zardari, he said meetings among politicians and with political leadership were a routine matter.
He said Asif Zardari was an ex-president and head of the country's largest opposition political party. He, however, added that no formal schedule was finalised for such a meeting with Mr Zardari.
To a question regarding Tahirul Qadir's landing issue, he said that workers of Qadri had worsened law and order situation and created problem and due to this the airplane was diverted to Lahore Airport.
He said a joint investigation team was working on the Model Town incident so that the report could be submitted in a proper manner.
Replying to a query, he said that the resignation from the Punjab law minister was taken for conducting transparent inquiry of the Model Town incident.
He said the democratic system would continue in the country as it is the most cherished model of governance.
He said that China and other foreign countries are taking keen interest in different sectors of Pakistan.
The minister said that China is investing $35 billion in energy sector due to dynamic policies and leadership of Pakistan.
Pervaiz Rashid said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had visited many countries to attract foreign investment for Pakistan.
He said the Prime Minister had inaugurated Dasu-Bhasha dam besides launched Youth Business Loan, Fee Reimbursement and Laptop schemes to benefit the young people.
He said that the Nandipur project had started generating the electricity and the tunnel project of Neelum-Jhelum project has been completed.
The federal minister said that all the development projects are being completed under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
To another question, he said the civil-military relations are going in accordance with the constitution of Pakistan.
Responding to a question, Pervaiz Rashid said the present government is providing all necessary support to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan.
He said that the government is fully cognizant of the problems of the IDPs, adding that all required facilities are being provided to the people who left their places due to ongoing North Waziristan operation launched to flush out terrorists.