Summary Qamar Zaman Kaira march is not in the national interest in any way in the prevailing situation.
LAHORE: Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said government is not deterred by long mach, which is not in the national interest in the present situation.
“Government is not fearful of long march announced by Dr Tahir ul Qadri but society is scared of lest this march should give the way to undemocratic process in the country and harm the democratic order.
Long march is not in the national interest in any way in the prevailing situation. We will act in consonance with the constitution if such situation emerges”, he said this while addressing a ceremony held under SAFMA and later talking to the media men here Wednesday.
“The real issue is this is slogan of Tahir ul Qadri and what he wants. Still a lot of contradictions exist what he is saying.
On one hand he talks of constitution and on other hand he talks of ultra constitutional things. Neither he wants to take part in the elections nor he says his party will contest the elections. We have to see what he wants No party has any objection to what he says about electoral reforms.
Parliament has given such suggestions to election commission two days earlier. We have to see now those talking of clause 62-63 if they fulfill these provisions or otherwise”, he observed.
Responding to a question he said caretaker government will be installed in line with law and constitution and its task will be to lend support to election commission. Caretaker set up cannot make policy or legislate and “we will go into consultation process with all the political parties to the extent the constitution allows to go. Dr Qadri does not qualify for such consultation”.
To a question about providing lotas to participants of the long march he said “we don’t do business of lotas. This question be asked from those who need lotas (turn coats) of PML-Q.
Pakistan is victim of terrorism since the last several decades, he said adding the menace of terrorism is not our production but it is the product of global powers which they gave during Afghan war.
Ahead of 1970 our society was a secular and tolerant society, he held. The global powers promoted extremism by spending billion of rupees. This extremism prevails in our society, he added.
He went on to say that “we are fighting against terrorism since the last many decades. Even then we are dubbed terrorists.
This allegation should come to end as war on terror is not our war but it is war of the entire world which we are fighting against terrorism is critical for establishment of peace not only in the region but also in the entire world. If the world does not help us then this war can be detrimental to the global peace. We should bolster up cooperation with each other in all sectors in South Asia, he stressed.
