LAHORE, Jan 28: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Saturday strongly defended the issuance of red notices against Ms Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Asif Ali Zardari, saying both of them were wanted in 10 cases pending with various courts.

In at least one case, he said while talking to Dawn, the court was contemplating legal action against PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who was a guarantor for the presence of the ‘accused’ in Pakistan.

“Interpol has not issued red notices without applying mind. They have taken the step after scrutinizing the matter according to the law”.

Asked whether the government’s initiative would not adversely affect its own efforts to create national consensus on Kalabagh dam, the minister answered in the negative.

He said the government would hold talks with the parties which had expressed reservations about the project, not the PPP which had one point of view in Punjab and quite another in other provinces.

The minister did not spell out what the government demanded from the US and the UAE, the two countries Ms Bhutto and Zardari visit frequently, after the issuance of red notices.

The Pakistan government, the minister said, had told Interpol the countries where the ‘accused’ could be traced. However, he said it was for the international agency to perform its legal duty.

Asked whether there was still some possibility of the government going for the much-talked about process of national reconciliation, Sheikh Rashid said though it was the need of the hour, the PPP and the PML-N were obstructing it.

He complained that whenever the government decided to hold talks, the two parties sought relief for their leaders (Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif).

So far, he said, it was not clear whether both the former premiers would be active participants of the political process or they would just be issuing instructions to their respective parties sitting outside the ring.

Questioned if Mr Sharif would have the permission to take part in political activities during his stay in London, the minister said: “Wait and see, everything will become clear in a few days”.