Govt won't ignore protesters' anti-state remarks, says Fawad

KARACHI: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday said the federal government will not turn a blind eye to provocative and anti-state remarks made by protesters during the demonstrations against acquittal of Aasia Bibi in a blasphemy case. 

Referring to an agreement reached between the government and the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) that brought an end to the countrywide protests, he said the step the government took was akin to “dousing flames”.

He maintained the government acted under a strategy.

The minister made it plain that no one should have the misunderstanding that the state would pardon them.

He said the impression that the state is weak will soon dispel, adding that those who made inciteful speeches and indulged in vandalism will not be ignored.

“This is an act of sedition and thus cannot be turned a blind to,” he clarified.

Fawad said all those involved in such acts would be brought to justice. Replying to a question, he said there is no need to impose governor’s rule in Sindh.

He said the federal government with the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will plant a desalination plant in Karachi to overcome shortage of water. He said all promises made by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf will be fulfilled.

A day earlier, the minister had said, “We need to take steps against extremism, we need to take steps against such kind of violent protesters and we need to come up with a permanent solution. Right now this is not a cure. This is firefighting, what we are doing. The cure is the real thing and our government is committed to the cure.”