We won’t let ehtesab hinder progress: minister

Pervaiz Rashid says reforms will be brought in consultation with political leadership; NAB chief himself admitted flaws in accountability system

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information Senator Pervaiz Rashid on Saturday said the government will not let the accountability (Ehtesab) process undermine the country’s progress, adding that the NAB chairman had himself admitted flaws in the accountability system.

Talking to the media here, he said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had also expressed concern over NAB actions and other parties also had reservations in this regard.

The minister said reforms in the bureau would be introduced with the consultation of the elected leadership.

He said PTI Chairman Imran Khan too had some reservations about the Ehtesab Commission laws in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and had made some changes.

Pervaiz said Pakistan had fulfilled its responsibility on the Pathankot issue and it would boost the country’s image in the international community.

“No one has the right to use the territory of Pakistan in a manner that damages Pakistan,” he said.

Regarding the filing of an FIR of the Pathankot airbase attack, the minister said a committee comprising representatives of security institutions had been constituted and the government had implemented its recommendations.

He said it was the armed forces’ duty to defend every inch of Pakistan’s borders. — Sabah

APP adds: Pervaiz Rashid said Imran Khan had become an admirer of Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Qamar Zaman Chaudhry whose appointment was termed a compromise by him in the past.

He said Imran Khan used to say that Qamar Zaman was made NAB chairman to protect corruption.

“Imran Khan has forgotted that he had challenged the NAB chief’s appointment in the court, he said.

He said Imran was in the habit of not speaking the truth and considered the lie of yesterday as the truth of today.

“If Khan Sahib does not understand what we are saying then he may understand what is said by the person who had been admired by him.”

He welcomed the decision of a TV anchor to approach the Supreme Court and Pemra. 

“This would provide me with an opportunity to expose his wrong statements and the art of turning his personal wishes into news,” he added.

“Those spreading wrong and baseless rumours should also have the courage to hear the truth about themselves,” said the minister.

He said the act of disrespect towards others should be stopped as those who spread rumours and disrespect others had to apologise to the courts.

He said during the current affairs programme of a channel, the anchor was heard saying that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would be arrested so he should get bail.

The minister said Ishaq Dar was the finance minister of Pakistan and a respectable person and he had the right to represent the people because of his mandate.

“The country’s economy is linked to the international economy and the international financial institutions are associated with Pakistan. The most important task is of the finance minister and the anchor should explain his allegations.”

“What kind of journalism is it which lacks morality and promotes lies? The anchorpersons of such programmes become lawyers and judges at the same time.”

Talking about the National Action Plan, the minister said the plan was made in consultation with all the political parties due to which the nation today considered itself safer than before.

The minister said it was the constitutional job of the armed forces to defend the country and respond to aggression.

“Those who are not part of the armed forces have no right to get involved in something which causes defamation,” he added.

He stressed that it was necessary to stop such kind of persons and make the world believe that such people would not be tolerated on our soil.

The minister said the pace of progress of Pakistan was slower than those countries which had lagged behind it in terms of resources, hard work and capability.

“If we did not move on a fast track, then we will be left behind the rest of the world.”

He said there were some political hurdles in the way of the country’s progress and prosperity and this included the 120-day sit-in which delayed the historic CPEC project.

Addressing a condolence reference, the minister said Prof Dr Hassan Akhtar was an honour for journalism. “We admire him too because he talked about ethics in journalism.”     

The minister said Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz may have left the world but his articles and ethics based on his writings were alive.

“Dr Naz does not need an award but society owes a lot to him because of his morality-based journalism.”  He urged journalists to follow the teachings of Dr Naz.