ISLAMABAD, Aug 14 (APP): Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid Sunday congratulated the nation on Independence Day that was celebrated in a peaceful manner with zeal and fervor.
Talking to PTV, he said the nation welcomed 70th
Independence day with fireworks and decorated buildings.
It showed that Pakistani nation is alive and loved its
independence, he said, adding they also knew how to protect their land.
The minister said while the nation was welcoming
Independence day, some elements were busy in protesting, but the people of Pakistan had rejected their baseless protest demonstrations.
The nation had told such elements that they were not
supporting the negative politics but rallying behind Prime
Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his team, who were working for the development and prosperity of the country, he added.
He said the people has improved their living standards with
passage of time after Independence and living happy and enjoying their way of life.
He said the country was producing electricity to meet
growing energy demands and work on various hydel, gas and coal power projects were underway.
Pervaiz Rashid said Pakistani women were playing active role
for the progress and uplift of the country and they were serving in every sector.
Commenting upon Indian Occupied Kashmir’s situation, he said Indian atrocities and barbarism were on the rise against the innocent Kashmiris.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has highlighted Kashmir issue at every fora including the United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) and demanded an end to Indian brutalities against the innocent Kashmiris.
Replying to a question, he said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-
moon and international human rights organisation strongly
condemned the Indian atrocities against the Kashmiri people.
He said Pakistan would continue its moral, political and
diplomatic support to Kashmiris. Sacrifices of Kashmiri people for their basic right to self determination will not go waste and would help achieve the goal of freedom from India.
Replying to a question, he said war against terrorism was
progressing successfully.
In the past, the issue was neglected but the Prime Minister
has focused to eliminate terrorism from the country and initiated effective steps in this regard.
He said,”Our valiant armed forces are rendering supreme
sacrifices in the war against terrorism. Incidents of terrorism
had declined in the country immensely due to efforts of civil and military leadership.”
He said the National Action Plan (NAP) was being implemented and there was need to intensify efforts in this regard.
He said the provincial governments were playing role in the
eradication of terrorism while the Federal government was
providing all kind of support.
Punjab government has constituted a force comprising 5,000 personnel while Sindh government formed a force of 2,200 personnel to counter threats of terrorism, he added.
Pervaiz said the international community has lauded
Pakistan’s unprecedented sacrifices in the war terrorism.
To another query, he replied the accountability institutions
were fully functional in the country and advised the elements
levelling allegations against government to approach the Election Commission.
He observed that such elements were merely doing politics of allegations to keep them alive. The PTI had formed government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but failed to deliver anything for public welfare.
The minister said a number of cases against PTI chief Imran
Khan were filed by his own party members in the Election
Commission and not by the government.
Pervaiz Rashid said there were allegations against Imran
Khan regarding charity in Britain and the charity commission was investigating the matter.
He questioned Imran Khan which kind of accountability he was demanding from the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister had launched several mega projects during his previous tenure which were investigated by the Pakistan People’s Party and Musharaf’s governments but none of the allegations regarding corruption were proved.
He said Motorway was a gift of the Prime Minister and the
critics of such project also preferred to travel on it and wished to construct similar motorways in their areas as well.