Memon says Musharraf respects public mandate

Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A Memon on Saturday said President Pervez Musharraf respects the public mandate and power will be transferred to the new government.
Addressing the members of Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA) here, the minister said that whichever group or party achieves majority in the national assembly will be facilitated once the notification of the MNAs-elect is issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Memon said as a successful democratic country, Pakistan is setting new traditions. The terrorists tried to destabilise and derail the system but were failed in their efforts. He said the terrorists killed Benazir Bhutto who was one of the great world leaders of the present times and started propaganda that the elections would not be held.
He said elections were rescheduled but the caretaker government fulfilled its constitutional obligation of holding free, fair and transparent polls under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf. He said the country's nuclear assets are in safe hands and there is a complete command and control system for their administration. He said the armed forces are in high spirits and fully prepared to defend the country.
Memon said President Pervez Musharraf is the elected president of Pakistan and has fulfilled his promise by relinquishing the command of the army. With this, he said, the president has set a tradition unprecedented so far.
He said ways are looked into for internal autonomy of the Northern Areas adding that royalty of Bhasha and Diamer Dams will be spent for the uplift of the people and the areas. He said there are over 50 television channels operating freely and without any official intervention. He said there are a large number of newspapers but none of them is owned by the government.
Nisar Memon said investors from the private sector should launch projects in the field of media in the Northern Areas. He said nine FM Radio Stations will be set up while two Radio Transmitters were being installed by Radio Pakistan at Chilas and Astore.
He said for the benefit of farmers of Northern Areas the President had written off loans worth rupees one billion and for the empowerment of the people had upgraded Northern Areas Council and made it Northern Areas Legislative Assembly.