Govt strongly protested against latest drone attack: Pervez Rashid

09 Jun, 2013

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information, Pervez Rashid said on Sunday that government had strongly protested against the latest drone strike as these attacks were against the independence and sovereignty of the country.

Talking to Radio Pakistan he said even if former military ruler had allowed the US government to conduct drone strikes inside the country, it was not legal, as he was not a legitimate ruler.

Pervez Rashid said we would have to talk to Americans and inform them about Pakistan's reservations on drone attacks as people had strong sentiments against these strikes.

He urged political parties, institutions, intelligentsia and people of Pakistan to focus on common issues including terrorism, extremism, energy crisis and shortage of clean water, education, health and other facilities in the country.

Replying to a question, he said it was pivotal that opposition kept a close check on treasury to help it make policies and programmes for the welfare of the masses.

Pervez Rashid said Pakistan gave image of an insecure country where foreign investors were reluctant to invest and capital was fleeing. He said the present government had to change this perception.

Replying to another question regarding secret funds, Pervez Rashid said it was inappropriate to use tax payers' money for gaining political ends.

Pervez Rashid, however, was of the view that if there were some national objectives to be attained with these funds, their use should be transparent and answerable to the parliament and other relevant quarters. He said the government would abolish the law under which these funds were used in the past.

Regarding power shortage, he said the problem was complex as not only less electricity was being produced, but also more of it relied on oil to run plants.

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