Solangi reiterates govt's commitment for holding polls on Feb 8
Pakistan
Solangi said the government would extend all-out assistance to the ECP for holding the elections.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Caretaker Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi on Tuesday reiterated the government’s commitment for holding the polls on February 8.
Speaking in talk shows of different private news channels, the minister said the power to fix or change the date of elections solely rested with the ECP under Article 218(3) of the Constitution, he said, expressing full confidence in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding free, fair and transparent elections.
Concerted efforts were underway to maintain law and order, he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to provide security to leaders of all the political parties.
To a query, he said the government would extend all-out assistance to the ECP for holding the elections.
As regards the level-playing field to the political parties, the minister said nomination papers of some 80 per cent PTI candidates had been accepted.
To another query, he said the visit of Maulana Fazlur Rehman to Afghanistan was not in his personal capacity. However, the government had no objection if any political leader wanted to play its role in improving the bilateral relations of Pakistan with any country.
He clarified that the government would not negotiate with any armed group and there would be no compromise on the Constitution.
Solangi said the caretaker government was established under the Article 224 of the Constitution. The election would be held in time which would eventually lead the country towards economic and political stability, he added.
He said the caretaker government stabilized the economy with administrative measures especially against the illegal smuggling.
The minister said the caretaker government would bequeathed the country to the elected government in a better economic shape.
He said Pakistan was a democratic country and women had been enjoying all the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
To another query, he said the government was in contact with the Baloch protestors and had immediately released children and women in first round of the talks with them.
