Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi said on Friday that the interim government believed in protecting and promoting the rights of all citizens in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
“We will not allow anyone to fan the flames of extremism and lawlessness,” he said during a conversation with Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council who met him here.
Minorities, especially Christians, played an important role in the establishment of Pakistan, Solangi remarked.
The minister said that caretaker Prime Minister had strongly condemned Jaranwala incident, adding “the government will not tolerate such behavior.”
The process of construction and rehabilitation of the affected churches and the houses of the affected citizens was in progress, the minister told Ashrafi.
The Maulana congratulated Murtaza Solangi on assuming the responsibilities as caretaker Minister.
Tahir Ashrafi paid tributes to Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar for taking immediate legal action against those involved in the Jardanwala tragedy.
He said that Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Syed Mohsin Naqvi’s immediate actions in that regard were commendable. Earlier, Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi on Thursday said the government would hold the general election in accordance with the timeline of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
“The election will be conducted on the date which the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce,” the minister said while talking to the media.
“We stand by the Election Commission’s stance, as we do not have any intention to take its powers back,” the minister maintained.
In accordance with Article 218(3) of the Constitution, he said the caretaker government would provide all-out support to the ECP for holding free, fair and transparent elections.
The ECP was bound to carry out a delimitation exercise under Article 51, he said, adding the election watchdog had already issued a plan in that regard. He said it was clearly stated in the Constitution that the country would be run by the elected representatives of the masses.
Solangi said the caretaker finance minister would present an economic recovery plan in a few days.
He said the elected government would have the economy in better form as the caretaker government committed to economic progress and prosperity.
The statement came after the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja decided ‘against’ meeting President Alvi on his invitation to discuss the general election date
ECP sources said that the decision was reportedly taken during a meeting of the ECP to discuss the legal and constitutional options in line with the president’s letter.
According to the briefing of the legal team, the CEC was advised not to ‘consult’ President Alvi on the election date as after the Election Amendment Act, there is no need for such consultation.
After the briefing, CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja decided ‘against’ meeting the president and wrote a letter to him.
The letter stated the ECP respects President Arif Alvi, but there is no need for consultation on the election date as per the Election Amendment Act.
The president can announce the election date when the assembly is dissolved by the presidency, however, ECP is autonomous in announcing the date, the letter read.
It maybe noted that President Arif Alvi on Wednesday invited Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja for a meeting to decide the date of general elections.
