Focus on to hold free, fair elections: Solangi

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi on Friday reiterated the commitment of the government with regard to the holding of free, fair and transparent general elections on February 8 next year.

Ruling out any possibility of delay, he said the general elections would be held under the schedule, already given by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Talking to media persons, he said that Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja did enjoy the confidence of majority people and there was no question of his resignation. To a question, Solangi said he could not comment on internal issues of political parties as the caretaker government wanted to maintain cordial relations with all political forces.

On a question about termination of service of some employees, he said that media channels initially gave feasibility reports to PEMRA which was also required at the time of issuance of licence. He said that under PEMRA Amendment Act 2023, the journalist job was protected. Murtaza Solangi assured that the government would take legal measures to protect the employment of journalists.

The minister said an unpleasant and unwarranted situation had arisen regarding the protesters from Balochistan. and added their demands were long-standing.He said all women and children had been released besides most of the men, adding their protection was being fully ensured. He said that the committee, constituted by the Prime Minister, was doing its work. Currently the Governor Balochistan was in Islamabad and consultations with him were underway, he added. Moreover, today a meeting of this committee with the Prime Minister was also scheduled, he said.

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi also said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP extended the date for submission of nomination papers by two days on the demand of various political parties.

Talking to the “media”, he said the ECP had not made any changes in the date of elections, which would be held on February 8, 2024. Solangi said the Commission had also taken notice of the candidates’ complaints regarding nomination papers, and the legitimate ones were being redressed.

“We are trying our best to find a remedy for the issues of which the Election Commission has taken notice.” The minister said that law enforcement was a provincial matter and the provincial governments acted under the law. “We are bound to help the Election Commission,” Solangi reaffirmed.

About the protestors from Balochistan, he said that the caretaker government would try its best to solve the issue in its limited term. The minister said the government had decided to immediately release the women and children involved in the Baloch protests and some protestors were provided medical facilities.

He said most of the protestors included people who had no homes or relatives in Islamabad. “We decided to send them back to Quetta safely but the protestors refused to go back,” Murtaza Solangi said. ” Our aim was to send the protestors safely to their homes.” He said the caretaker regime assured the protesters to consider their long-standing demands as well.