Imran should give assurance of 'security' during march: Rafique

Dawn.com Published August 8, 2014

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Friday said that if Imran Khan is not willing to halt his long march, he should give assurance to the government that there will be no harm to the property and lives of the people during the event.

Rafique said Imran should consider the country’s security situation before deciding on or taking any drastic steps.

He said the country was in a state of war and going through a host of challenges, adding that those displaced as a result of the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan were homeless.

In this situation, it is odd that Imran should ramp up about his march, the minister said, adding that instead of demonstrating on the streets the PTI chief should offer to extend some assistance to help the IDPs resettle.

He emphasised that to win the war against terrorism, it was imperative that political parties should form a united front.

Rafique said showing some maturity and patience for the country’s sake and for democracy Imran should postpone the march.

Moreover, he said that the demands placed by Imran are unconstitutional but the government will still consider them in order to retain peace in the country.

PTI chairman Imran Khan has announced that his supporters will hold a sit-in in the federal capital on August 14.

The PTI says the march is to protest alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections and to press for electoral reforms. However, Imran wants Nawaz Sharif's government to resign and new elections to be held.

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Amjad

Aug 08, 2014 12:54pm

Look who is talking...... Giving lessons to others for doing their jobs, he should be looking into his own ministry - working for railways rusty rail tracks and a lot of corruption - Get down to your own work.....

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nisar

Aug 08, 2014 01:09pm

Have Nawaz brothers lost their voice boxes or are they powerless to shut him up or is he going to be next qurbani ka bakra. Is counting of votes in his constituency unconstitutional?

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Akhtar

Aug 08, 2014 01:32pm

I thought ensuring security, maintaining law and order is the primary responsibility of the government. They must ensure that the protestors do not get carried away, and are responsible for actions by police. In Pakistan, policemen are generally crude and uneducated. Protestors are by and large more educated, and come from better family backgrounds. The government giving free hand (giving maximum support to the government) is not acceptable. We have seen police brutality every time there is a protest.

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raza

Aug 08, 2014 02:00pm

I have a few questions 1 Is Mr Saad the Interior Minister ? or Information Minister ? if he is Railway minister then he should stick to his job and only bee seen on the media telling the nation why the railway is in shambles and what is he doing about it ? how many freight trains has he managed to get up and going which is the back bone of any country's railway.We do not want him to be talking about any thing else. 2.While asking Imran khan to give guarantee can this government give guarantee of the lives and property of its citizen ? 3 If we are in state of war then why did the PM spend 10 days out of the country while it is at War ? 4 What about the constitutional demands of IK what has the government done about it in one year ?

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Aurang

Aug 08, 2014 02:47pm

Look at the state of affairs - railway minister will talk about law and order, law minister about foreign affairs, foreign minister - well we don't have any!!! Democratic Kingdom of Pakistan!

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Sami

Aug 08, 2014 04:14pm

Why? You will run train on shahrah e faisal on 14th of August.

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Syed

Aug 08, 2014 10:29pm

Saad Rafique, it is absurd. You are the government and law and order is your responsibility. Your desperation makes me wonder what your mindset is and what you guys are planning. I am seriously concerned that you guys are going to blow up bombs in the crowds (during opposition rallies) and will blame opposition and Taliban. You may be able to get away in this world, but eventually you will have to answer your deeds in front of Almighty and on that day, you won't be able to lie. I neither support government nor opposition but if you are going to kill innocent people to save your government, rest assure you will not do yourself any favour.

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Gentle charmer

Aug 08, 2014 11:36pm

You mean like you and your government has given assurance to Pakistani ever since you came in power. I think this saad guy is on drugs he always come with such a ridiculously stupid ideas

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Zain

Aug 09, 2014 01:11am

@Amjad . Very true. Instead of messing about in other people affairs & criticizing the people who got genuine grievances about the present government, Saad should concentrate on improving the railways for which he is getting paid.

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