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Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervez Rashid Sunday said there should be no politicking on foreign policy and the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) should rise above its party politics.
Speaking to a private TV channel, he said the PTI was pursuing a dual policy regarding the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).
The stance taken by the PTI leaders while abroad was different from that they adopted here in public, he said and added that such “hypocrisy” was not in the national interest as it gives the world a message that Pakistanis are a confused nation.
Rashid said halting and searching of Nato containers by the PTI workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) could not be termed as a correct action. The PTI leadership had failed to guide and rein in its workers, he said and added non-state actors could not be allowed to run the state affairs.
He said the main leadership of PTI, including its chairman Imran Khan, was absent in the sit-ins against drone strikes. Even in the first information report (FIR) against the drone attacks, the party had not nominated any particular person as the accused, he added.
The minister said urban planning projects continued in the KP with the help of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and dollars were flowing in the province.
Referring to the recent problem at a stage in PTI public gathering, where its chief Imran Khan was also present, he said how could a party, which could not properly manage a public rally stage, effectively pursue foreign policy of the country.
He said there should be no muscle flexing on national issues and instead negotiations should be preferred for their resolution.
Responding to a question, Pervez Rashid said the government did not want confrontation with any country as it was not in Pakistan's interest. “We want cordial relations with Afghanistan and other neighbouring countries,” he added.
About the missing persons, he said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had been pursuing their case. The Supreme Court wanted the missing persons back at home and the PML-N government also desired the same, he added.
Answering another question, Rashid hoped that the “Tahaffuz-e-Pakistan Ordinance” would get the parliament’s approval with consensus of the opposition.
He said a smooth democratic system was functional in the country. The elected government was making appointments at key posts according to the book, he added.
Lauding services of outgoing Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, he said the CJ had played a vital role in strengthening democracy in the country.
To a question, the information minister said the prices of potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetables were declining gradually.
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