What’s difference between PPP and banned outfits, asks Fawad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Wednesday that the Ministry of Interior had been asked to set free all those arrested, barring those, who were involved in attacks on the police personnel.

In tweet, the minister said that such machinations of attacking the police jawans adopted to skip investigation should be vehemently condemned. Earlier, the minister said with the appearance of Bilawal and Zardari before NAB the ‘corruption Olympics episode two will start at 11:00am, stay tuned. “The party will arrive on board five tongas. Want to see doing corruption and showing arrogance, see Nawaz and Zardari then,” he tweeted.

In reaction on social media, to the events in the federal capital, in relation to appearance of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari before NAB, the minister said that a few dozen Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers attacking police was unfortunate. “Today, PPP Chairman Bilawal and former president Asif Zardari were questioned at National Accountability Bureau headquarters in the fake bank accounts case, by two investigation teams comprising 16 officers led by DG NAB Rawalpindi Irfan Mangi,” he noted.

He wondered, "How come this behaviour of asking your workers to carry out attacks during investigation process is any different from the banned organisations, upon whom the National Action Plan is being enforced.”

Fawad emphasised that the monopoly over violence was the right and responsibility of the state, “whereas you say that how can anyone dare to investigate you and then ask your people to attack the police. This behaviour is in negation of the basic concepts the Constitution and the law,” he contended.

The minister was hopeful that the PPP leadership would apologise over the way the party workers behaved. He added that there were reports of injuries to four policemen and two TV cameramen while Bilawal was delivering speech in a manner, as if, addressing hundreds of thousands of gathering.

He noted the police had shown restraint and tried to tackle the situation with neutrality and the government wanted to push forward this conduct of the police. “However, if you will cross the limits, then the state will fulfil its responsibility. We want cordiality but this does not mean that the process of accountability is halted. And, those who are facing cases, shall have to undergo the due process. It is not possible that you may influence the on-going accountability process,” he cautioned.