Resigned to save democracy, says Pervaiz Rasheed

ISLAMABAD: Former information minister Senator Pervaiz Rasheed on Friday said that he resigned during the Dawn Leaks controversy to save democracy in the country.

Speaking to a private news channel, Senator Rasheed further added he gave the sacrifice for strengthening democracy in the country.   

Rasheed said that former president Gen (retd) Pervaiz Musharraf was not sent abroad by the Nawaz-government, however, he admitted it the government could not stop him from doing so.

"Other institutions did not cooperate with us in stopping Musharraf from leaving the country," he said. 

"Musharraf, himself said that someone helped him to travel abroad."

Rasheed added that Musharraf's legacy conspired against the Nawaz-led government, however, Nawaz chose a measured restraint.

"There is a ghost, which I call the ghost of Musharraf's legacy, it is present in political parties, political minds, and the institutions of the country."

"We have to change this thinking, we have to challenge it and fight against it," said the former information minister. 

Rasheed termed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) 'a pawn' in Nawaz's ouster.

He added that in the past, people would forget the name of a prime minister in two months after his ouster, but this time the people of Pakistan reacted to Nawaz being ousted. 

Rasheed further said that despite having the interior ministry, a Joint Investigation Team was formed and Whatsapp messages were sent.