Imran Khan was mastermind behind conspiracy, Faiz Hameed facilitator: Tarar

Islamabad: Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar on Saturday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan was the mastermind of the conspiracy, while retired general Faiz Hameed was the facilitator.

The minister was appreciative of the Pakistan Army's internal accountability system. "The way things have progressed and the Pakistan Army has conducted a transparent investigation -- as they have their own accountability system -- the army itself strongly believes in the accountability system," he said while addressing a presser in the federal capital.

He said that the accountability in [retited Lt Gen Faiz Hameed's court-martial case] appeared to be moving forward in [scope]. "It's only because one political leader Imran Khan Niazi did the politics of anarchy and hatred and colluded with these people."

Imran Niazi was the ringleader in spreading unrest against the integrity of the country and he was supported by Lt Gen (retired) Faiz, Tarar further said, adding there were also members of other institutions involved, whether it was Saqib or Nisar, of this country. "We shall not allow destruction."

The minister said that it was also a nexus that the Taliban were brought and settled and today these people were responsible for the insecurity in the country. 

He said that the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif kicked off development projects in the country and the service under his leadership was still continuing. "Nawaz laid a network of motorways in the country and provided facilities to investors," he said, adding the Punjab government took a good step by providing facilities to electricity consumers.

Regarding the announcement of a reduction in the electricity bills by Rs14 in Punjab, Tarar said that there was no such precedent in the history of Punjab that the government was going to reserve Rs45 billion for providing relief to the people.

He said that both federal and Punjab governments are committed to the public relief agenda, adding this reflects that the PML-N leadership is sensitive to the difficulties of the masses. He said this relief of forty-five billion rupees will bring ease in the lives of the consumers for the months of summer.

The minister recalled that the Prime Minister had earlier provided a subsidy of fifty billion rupees to the consumers using up to two hundred units for three months. He said reductions in electricity prices as well as the recent one in petrol are major steps towards the provision of relief to the masses.

Tarar pointed out that the solarization of twenty-eight thousand tubewells in Balochistan would provide relief to the farmers of the province.

The information minister said inflation has come down to eleven percent and international financial institutions are predicting more decline in it. He said Mian Muhammad Nawaz had always believed in the politics of public service.

Tarar informed reporters that the government is also working to find a durable solution to reduce electricity prices. He said efforts are being made to reduce line losses and check power pilferage.