Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Nisar A. Memon on Tuesday categorically stated that schedule of elections would not be changed.
"The political parties, considering the boycott of elections, have their own political views, but caretaker government has come to provide a conducive environment for free, fair and transparent elections", he said while replying newsmen questions during visit to the Mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam where he laid floral wreath and offered Fateha.
Nisar Memon said that political parties were free to carry out their political activities as per their party strength and policies in keeping with the Code of Conduct issued by Pakistan Election Commission (PEC).
He said that except for holding big public meetings in open, they could hold rallies in confined places and this had been done in view of acts of terrorism particularly in the big rally of PPP's Chairperson Benazir Bhutto on the occasion of her return to Pakistan in which about 150 people lost their lives and over 500 were injured.
He said anti-Pakistan forces and terrorist elements had no concern with the holding of peaceful elections, adding they had their own agenda and wanted to derail the entire democratic process, which the government would not allow under any circumstance.
"The caretaker set-up is committed to create an enabling environment in which elections on January 8 are conducted in a peaceful, free and fair manner", he declared. The Federal Minister said that participation of political parties in the elections would provide a big choice to people in exercising their right of vote and assured that entire election process would be carried out in accordance with the constitution and law.
Nisar Memon told a questioner that all major political parties were set to take part in the polls on January 8, but those parties, which did not want to participate were still engaged in dialogue with other parties on this issue. When his attention was drawn to the fact that appointment letters are still being issued, the Information Minister said that this matter be brought to the notice of PEC and also to the government.
He said he had no information in this regard, but if the fact proved the government would certainly take action. To another question, Nisar Memon said the media was totally independent and holding our accountability. He recalled that in the year 2002, the then caretaker government in which he was also Minister for Information, all black laws relating to media had been eliminated.
In regards to the present situation, the minister informed that he had held two meetings with CPNE, APNS and PFUJ and discussed the amendments that were intended to be brought in the Press Council.
He said that for talks they were asked to give names of their representatives and whatever irritants would be resolved through mutual dialogue because nothing could be achieved out of protests. The minister said he had asked for lists of those arrested during protests by the respective provincial authorities, but those were still awaited for the last 10-15 days.
He said he was confidant that no patriotic person or journalist would like to see a peaceful and conduciive environment in Pakistan to be marred and affect the elections, adding that now the ball was in the court of journalist organisations.
Special Advisor to President Sharifuddin Pirzada, Federal Minister for Human Rights Ansar Burney, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, Dr Faheem Ansari, Federal Minister for Culture and Sports Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan Jogezai and Federal Minister for Provincial Co-ordination, Dr Mohammed Amjad also visited the Quaid's Mazar, laid floral wreath and offered Fateha.