ISLAMABAD: Political tensions between the government and the PTI have begun to simmer yet again, but even as both sides convene hurriedly-called press conferences and trade accusations, neither side seems to have anything new or substantive to add.

For the past several weeks, it is routine for Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed to call a press conference at the Press Information Department soon after the PTI chief holds his weekly (or sometimes bi-weekly) news conference at his Bani Gala residence.

Thursday’s press conferences were no different. In his press talk, the PTI chief again denigrated the Sharif brothers — PM Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif — for running the country like their personal fiefdom through the Punjab police. The only new aspect in his address was the story of an employee at one of the Sharif brothers’ many businesses whose family, according to the PTI chairman, was being targeted at the behest of Salman Shahbaz, son of the younger Sharif sibling.

Also read: PTI warns govt against complacency over demands

The PTI leader also recalled how some 25,000 recruitments had been made in Punjab police by the Sharif family in violation of merit, the same police that were now being used against their political adversaries. “Nawaz and Shahbaz are responsible for politicising the Punjab police to the extent that the force now acts like their personal servants,” Mr Khan said.

To substantiate his argument, Mr Khan referred to the resignation of the Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, earlier in the day. At a press conference of his own, the outgoing governor had said that there was complete lawlessness in the country and land mafias were more powerful than the police. “I’ve been saying the same thing: that the Sharif brothers have brought the country to the brink of complete disaster,” the PTI chairman said.

He then delved into his oft-repeated set of allegations against the PML-N; not constituting a judicial commission to investigate rigging in the last general elections, building huge businesses at the cost of the state outside the country, and, putting their personal interests ahead of the country’s.

Mr Khan also warned the government yet again that the party would resort to street protests if the government didn’t constitute the judicial commission. “Tomorrow (Friday) at the core committee meeting, we will decide the timeframe for our next protest. If somebody thinks we will remain quiet over the government’s bad governance, they are seriously mistaken.”

Shortly, after the PTI presser, as per routine, PID officials started calling media houses and beat reporters to Zero Point to attend the information minister’s press talk. A soft-spoken and smiling Senator Rasheed, however, was anything but conciliatory and called the PTI chief a liar who made claims without verifying the facts.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Pervaiz Rasheed lashes out at Imran Khan at a press conference on Thursday.—INP

The minister said that the Ramazan Sugar Mills’ employee about whom Mr Khan spoke in his presser was involved in a fraud case, and his claims have also been rejected by Lahore High Court.

The minister then derided Mr Khan for making accusations against former chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and former Punjab caretaker chief minister Najam Sethi. “Both former CJ and Mr Sethi have gone to the courts against Mr Khan, where the latter has refused to appear. Particularly in case of Mr Sethi, the PTI chief has been declared a proclaimed offender for not appearing in court, and he talks about respecting the law of the land.

Talking about the findings of the election tribunals, Mr Rasheed said, “Mr Khan has applauded the findings of a commission appointed by the election tribunal in the case of NA-122 and now has gone against the same. The government is unable to understand how to fulfil his desire.”

In response to the query regarding the government’s decision about former president Pervez Musharraf’s plea to travel abroad, the minister said the Supreme Court of Pakistan had barred him from travelling abroad. “Instead of writing to the government, General Musharraf should have approached the apex court for relief.”

Talking about the resignation of the Punjab governor, the minister said that Chaudhry Sarwar wanted to play an active role outside the walls of Governor House, and said, “We all have only good wishes for his future plans”.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2015

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