LAHORE: Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said Saturday that August 14 would mark the country’s Independence Day and celebrations would commence at Islamabad's D-Chowk, adding that all political leaders, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, and various foreign dignitaries would be invited to partake in the celebrations, DawnNews reported.

In a subtle reference to the million march on Islamabad that the PTI has been planning for August 14, the minister told media representatives in Lahore that after attending independence day celebrations, participants would be free to do as they pleased and there would be no restrictions on their movements.

Responding to a question regarding Imran Khan's proposed million march and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri's call for a revolution, Rashid said there was still time left before the march, adding that both Imran and Qadri were wont to 'backtrack' on their statements. He said Qadri had also come to Pakistan earlier for a revolution, but had left his people under a state of stress and had departed for Canada.

Earlier, Khan had announced to launch a million man long march on Islamabad on August 14 if the government failed to accept within a month his demands relating to fairness of elections.

Also read: PTI threatens Independence Day march on capital

The information minister said that the military was playing its role to secure the country, but those criticising the Army were, in turn, helping terrorists.

He said that the former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government wanted to give constitutional immunity to former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf but the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) had opposed the move.

Rashid said former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani’s statement yesterday had been distorted. He said Gilani had not mentioned that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had been taken on board regarding Musharraf.

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Rashid claimed that the PPP had apprised the PML-N that Musharraf would be guaranteed a safe passage, which the party had opposed and had allowed the law to take its own course over the former army strongman.