LAHORE: Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has alleged Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan wants dictatorship in the country to grab power through backdoor.

“Imran Khan hates democracy. He wants dictatorship in Pakistan that takes him to power through backdoor. But let me tell you Khan sahib! the backdoor cannot be opened now in the presence of an independent judiciary and vibrant media,” Rashid told a press conference here on Saturday.

He said the government would complete its tenure and general election would be held in 2018. However, he said, the future of Imran Khan was on roads.

The minister also mentioned “some facilitators” playing the role of a bridge between Imran Khan’s accountability march, Pakistan Awami Tahreek (Dr Tahirul Qadri’s) Qisas movement and Awami Muslim League (Sheikh Rashid’s) Nijaat Movement.

“Some facilitators arrange their (the trio’s) meetings here and abroad and play the role of a bridge. But they (the facilitators) could not give the three movements one name,” he said and added the sole purpose of rallies of the three parties was to make the life of people miserable.

The minister asked Mr Khan that why he did not take to street during Gen Musharraf’s rule. “The dictator (Musharraf) pushed Pakistan into others’ war and received billions of dollars but these were not spent on the country. I invite you (Imran) to board a container with us and seek Musharraf’s accountability,” he said.

He parried a question as to why the PML-N government itself had not initiated accountability of Musharraf despite controlling all the related institutions like Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at its disposal, saying, “We will first make Pakistan prosperous and then look into such matters.”

Pervaiz Rashid also clearly hinted that the proposal to form an independent judicial commission to probe Panama Leaks had become the story of past. “The PML-N is introducing a comprehensive accountability draft law in the National Assembly while PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan is bringing forth the same in the Senate. We invite Imran Khan to join us to make a law for accountability. If he is serious, his party (PTI) should submit its suggestions in this regard,” he said and added the new accountability law would also deal with Panamagate.

The minister said the three-party protest had cost Rs4b in business losses to Lahore and Rs1b to Rawalpindi, besides claiming lives of some patients who died on their way to hospital because their vehicles were stuck in traffic jams.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2016