'It is responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country and the caretaker government is bound under the Constitution to implement its orders, Jamaat-i-Islami Amir Syed Munawar Hasan said here on Friday.
Commenting on the caretaker Minister for Interior Malik Mohammad Habib Khan that the Army will only be used as a Quick Response Force (QRF) for the assistance of the local police and civil armed forces if required in the elections, the JI leader said the Interior Minister's statement is the violation of his mandate. ECP has already said that the elections would be held under the supervision of the Army, he added.
Addressing Juma congregation at Mansoora, Hassan said the Interior Minister has created doubts about the impartiality and fairness of the 2013 general elections by saying "Army would be used only when local police and Federal Civil Armed Forces (FCAF) fail to cope with law-and-order situation at any given location. He said "it is ridiculous to say that army personnel would not be deployed at the polling stations due to threats to their life." It is an insult to the army, he added.
He said to maintain law and order and defence of the frontiers of the country are the basic duties of the Armed Forces. Deployment of Armed Forces personnel at the polling centres during the elections is the sole responsibility/ discretion of the Election Commission; whereas, the caretaker government is under obligation to implement ECP's instructions, he emphasised.
Hassan called upon the ECP to immediately clarify its position for the purpose of holding peaceful and impartial elections in the country. Bitterly criticising the former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf for his past role and violation of the Constitution, Munawar Hassan said it would be a black spot on the ECP if Musharraf is allowed to contest the 2013-general elections.
Expressing surprise on PML(N) leaders' silence about Pervez Msharraf's arrival in Pakistan and participation in the general elections, the JI leader said this raises many questions as he (Musharraf) had toppled their elected government in 199 and subsequently forced them to leave the country and remain in exile for 10 years. He said Musharraf continues to tell lies to the nation that no one was killed in Lal Masjid Operation despite the fact that dozens of innocent children were killed. "Only ECP can tell us how such a person who had twice violated the constitution that tantamount to high treason could be allowed to contest the elections.
He said JI welcomes determination of the Judiciary, ECP and the Army to hold free, fair and impartial elections in the country. He said presence of US forces is a great danger to the peace and stability in the region. The US wants a civilian or a military government in Pakistan on which it could impose its decision.
He said the outgoing ruling coalition parties, PPP, MQM, ANP and PML(Q) implemented their manifestoes during past five years which gave nothing to the nation except inflation, terrorism, unemployment, energy load shedding and slavery of the United States.
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