If Imran Khan calls for a bloody march, then it is Rana Sanaullah’s responsibility to ensure public’s safety: Marriyum Aurangzeb
ISLAMABAD, May 14 (SABAH): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Saturday that the newly-elected Shehbaz Sharif-led government would complete its tenure in line with the Constitution.
While addressing a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID), the information minister confirmed that there were speculations regarding the PML-N’s visit to London and that Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif would soon lay out the details in an address to the nation. She said the prime minister would consult his allied political parties on the strategy and all decisions before making his address.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, saying that the visit was of a private nature, informed journalists at the press talk that during the London huddle, detailed deliberations were held on the rising inflation.
On the Sialkot jalsa of Imran Khan, the information minister said no one has prohibited PTI from holding rallies in the country and stressed that the government was “not afraid” of Khan’s hard-hitting speeches. “Your hate-mongering speeches will benefit us,” Marriyum Aurangzeb said.
The PML-N leader said the PTI and government had no issues over the venue after the party was informed of an alternate place. “It was the government’s duty to give due to right to the Christian community,” said Marriyum Aurangzeb.
In response to Imran Khan’s message that he would be coming to Sialkot, Marriyum Aurangzeb said: “Do come, who is stopping you? Nobody is afraid of you, the people have seen your real face.”
The information minister also noted that the Opposition was targeting the government leadership and warning of a “bloody march” during their press conferences and rallies.
“If Imran Khan calls for a bloody march, then it is [Interior Minister] Rana Sanaullah’s responsibility to ensure the public’s safety,” Marriyum Aurangzeb stressed. “Nobody has the right to hold a bloody march.”
Giving a message to the people going to PTI’s rallies, Marriyum Aurangzeb told them that Khan “lies” and that they should refrain from attending the party’s rallies.
“Imran Khan is incompetent, he made false promises of jobs to the youth,” she said, adding that the PTI chairman had damaged the country’s tradition of decency.
The information minister also slammed Imran Khan for “using government resources — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s helicopter — for his jalsas” and blaming the incumbent government for corruption.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said the current condition of the economy was not due to the present government as the falter began during Imran Khan’s tenure. “He gave illegal subsidies.”
Marriyum Aurangzeb said the PTI has been holding gatherings over the last few weeks. We are not scared of the speeches of former prime minister Imran Khan as these are only exposing his own mindset to the public.
When questioned about the possibility of early elections, she said the present setup was a coalition government so the decision was for all allied political parties to decide. “At this time, it is being strategised that how the burden of inflation could be reduced and how to bring confidence back into the economy,” the information minister said, adding that she hoped the government would complete its constitutional term.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said the events surrounding the no-confidence vote were also discussed in the London meetings of the party, adding that a decision was made to “deal with any element that violates the law or Constitution”.
Questioned on Imran Khan’s recent statements regarding the “neutrals” and how they did not opt to thwart the “foreign conspiracy” against him, the information minister said the right to freedom of speech did not cover remarks against institutions or hate speech and anyone doing so would be proceeded against according to the law.
“When you attack state institutions then there will be legal action against you and this is the government’s responsibility which it knows how to carry out,” she said.