I RESENT the aspersions cast on my values and beliefs by Mr Abbas Nasir as farfetched and misleading. (Similar origin, divergent paths, Feb 6)

My entire public career is testimony to a struggle waged to uphold the cause of democracy, equality, integrity and inclusiveness. I have remained steadfast and never compromised even in the face of physical torture, imprisonment and persecution at the hands of dictators. I was accused of blasphemy for my views on rights of women, minorities and for confronting bigotry. Coercion and edicts have neither changed me nor my principles.

I remain committed to the rights of workers whether they belong to the public or private sector. The conditions of workers in the public sector have seen a steady deterioration. Unfortunately, they have been exploited by their supervisors, who developed a vested interest. This is unacceptable and cannot be allowed by a government of which I am part.

In the ’90s, when the banks and some other public enterprises were privatised, there was a marked improvement in the workers’ conditions because of better working conditions, improved efficiency and service delivery.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has categorically assured that the interests of all PIA workers would be protected. Therefore, their welfare and security were never in danger. However, some elements with vested interests politicised the issue. These elements unfortunately succeeded in creating an atmosphere of fear, fuelling violent agitation that led to the martyrdom of workers, including Mr Inayat Raza.

Instead of raising his voice against those who filed a fabricated FIR against me, alleging that I had planned killing PIA workers sitting somewhere in Karachi, when the entire world knew I was in Islamabad, I regret that Mr Abbas Nasir chose to side with them and conveniently failed to question their morality.

Pervaiz Rashid

Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2016