Pervaiz Rashid to be inquired through parliament: Raza Rabbani

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani on Friday said that if former information minister Pervaiz Rashid under goes inquiry, the process would go through the parliament. The information ministry was taken back from Rashid over the matter of controversial news story by an English newspaper.

The former information minister came to attend a Senate session today and was greeted by the Chairman Senate and other members of the house.

Raza Rabbani on the occasion said to the former information minister that designations are temporary and the way he handled his responsibilities was exemplary.

Rabbani said that when the matter of controversial news citing a civil-military rift came up, he tried to contact Pervaiz Rashid but the contact could not be established.

He said that the reason behind contacting Rashid was to convey that he is not alone and the entire senate is standing behind him.

Rabbani said that the personnel of the armed forces are also inquired under the departmental law, adding that the upper house also ethics committee and other committees.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had taken back the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage from Pervaiz Rashid, weeks after the military's top commanders said a 'false and fabricated' newspaper report breached national security.

According to a statement from the PM's office, the premier had directed Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid to step down to enable holding of an independent and detailed inquiry into the episode.