Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Press Release

Islamabad, March 11,2009

Current situation a result of Opposition’s irresponsible call for
rebellion: Sherry Rehman

Says democratically elected government cannot allow rule of law to be replaced by
the law of the jungle

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ms. Sherry Rehman, has said that the current political situation in the country is a result of the Opposition’s irresponsible call for rebellion and the democratically elected government cannot allow the rule of law to be replaced by the law of the jungle.

It is indeed a sad day for many of us that all doors to negotiation and dialogue had been slammed shut.

“It is unfortunate that the government has had to resort to the imposition of Section 144, and a limited preventive detention of some individuals,” said Ms. Rehman while talking to members of the international media “However, it is a temporary situation because no democratically elected government wants to take such measures.”

To a question about the arrest of human right activist, she said she had personally intervened to get Tahira Abdullah released, just like the PM had reversed the arrest of Mr. Athar Minallah and other civil society activities.

The Federal Minister said that the present situation arose because former Prime Minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif chose to publicly incite rebellion and propagate a breakdown of the state of Pakistan’s constitutional machinery.

“Had the PML-N and the right-wing rump of the former lawyers’ movement decided to hold a peaceful rally, the government would have facilitated it, as it has done in the past,” said Ms. Rehman. “But Pakistan’s constitutional and democratically elected government cannot allow the rule of law to be replaced by the law of the jungle.”

The Federal Information Minister said that the Opposition's continued use of highly charged public statements inciting ‘revolution’, ‘rebellion’ and ‘civil disobedience’ did not serve the stature and interests of a strong democratic dispensation in Pakistan.

“On the contrary, such irresponsible public messages threaten to propel the country towards instability, chaos and anarchy, which no democratic force --whether in government or in opposition -- can afford for the welfare of Pakistan,” said Ms. Rehman.

The Federal Information Minister said that the government fully respected and abided by the fundamental political rights as enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan.