Imran Khan will be responsible if 'Azadi march' targeted: Pervaiz Rashid

Published August 3, 2014
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid. — File photo
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid said on Sunday that Imran Khan will be responsible in the event of an incident of terrorism on August 14 — the day of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's scheduled 'Azadi march'.

Speaking to media in Rawalpindi, Rashid said Imran Khan will have to give assurance that the rally will be a peaceful one.

He said that Imran's reported call for the resignations of PTI MNAs will lead to a mutiny within his party. He also said that leaders of Muslim League did not resort to a 'long march' to create Pakistan but instead pursued a democratic struggle.

"Why didn't Imran Khan stage a march during Musharraf's regime?" he asked, claiming that those standing up against the government are supporters of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

The information minister's statement comes at a time when the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) is reportedly approaching the PTI for a negotiation prior to Imran Khan's scheduled 'million-man' march to the capital on August 14.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has denied any meeting with Imran, while the PTI chief has said there is "no room" for any agreement with the government.

Imran called on country-wide supporters to march to Islamabad in protests of the government's alleged rigging of four key constituencies that the PTI chief says were won fraudulently by the PML-N.


Abid Sher Ali accuses Imran of cooperating with Taliban


At a media briefing on Sunday, Federal State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali accused Imran Khan of collaborating with the Taliban and said he is dividing the nation.

"It is the Taliban who is organising the long March and Imran Khan is speaking their language," Sher Ali told reporters.

Abid further said that the PML-N stands by the Pakistan military.

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