Govt to ensure free, fair elections: Ali Zafar
We are also seeking guidance from the media, Zafar said.
ISLAMABAD (APP):Caretaker Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Law Affairs Barrister Ali Zafar Wednesday said the interim government would ensure holding of free and fair election in the country.
Full support would be provided to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for conducting election in a peaceful environment, he said talking to a private news channel.
The government, he said, was trying to address all the issues in that regard. “We are changing secretaries and inspectors general of police with the help of ECP,” he added.
To a question, the minister said the caretaker government had limitation under the Constitution. It could not do any legislation, however, it was striving to sort out matters within the constitutional parameters, he added.
“We are also seeking guidance from the media,” he said.
Ali Zafar said soon after taking over of the interim set-up, an ordinance was promulgated making the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority to perform its role with freedom.
To another question regarding removing the name of Zulfi Bukhari, a friend of PTI chief Imran Khan, from the Exit Control List (ECL) a few days ago, he said the person whose name was included in the ECL, could not travel abroad.
As per the Supreme Court’s instructions, the Interior Ministry could not on its own decide to put the name of anyone on the ECL rather it had to seek the approval of the Federal Cabinet. As per his information, the cabinet had not taken a decision to include the name of Zulfi Bukhari in the ECL, so the Interior Secretary had put his name on the black list.
When the caretaker Interior Minister was informed about putting of Zulfi Bukhari’s name on the black list without the cabinet’s approval, then his name was removed from that list and he was granted permission to travel abroad, he added.
The minister said the matter had been referred to the Law Ministry as to whether the process could continue in future or not.
