Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira smelled another Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) in the making, saying that supporters of extremists are joining hands and the people should judge such forces in elections. According to him, such forces were rejected in the past and would also be rejected in upcoming elections by the people. He was talking to media at the residence of Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi on Saturday.
He said the PML-N always contested elections with the support of agencies in the past which was exposed in the verdict of the Asghar Khan case. He said the PML-N claimed that it was the most popular party of the country; and it is now forming coalition with nationalist parties which it has criticised in the past.
To a question about dialogue with Taliban, he said the government supported the All Parties Conference on the process of dialogue but it should be held with the elements who accepted the Constitution, State and the Law. "No dialogue with people who do not accept the Constitution and the Law," he added. The Federal Information Minister also sought respect for the Parliament being mother of all institutions. He said all institutions including judiciary, armed forces, bureaucracy and administration did follow the Parliament as it was the maker of the Constitution.
He said it is sole prerogative of Parliament that it could make and amend the Constitution, form new provinces and define and give rights to the people. To a question about postings and transfers of officers in Punjab, he said the Election Commission should take notice of such violations. He said it should also take notice of officers working on the same place for four or five years. To a question about seat adjustments with PML-Q, he said the PPP is a democratic party and it respected the mandate of other political parties.
He said candidates of both parties should contest elections from their seats which they have won in previous elections and did not abandon their party. However, he added tickets for the next elections are the right of candidates who are in winning position in their constituencies. On a question about the distribution of laptops among expected presiding officers by the Punjab Government, he said the Election Commission should look into the matter and take notice if it could affect the election process. To another question about names for the caretaker prime minister, he said the caretaker set-up would be formed on time and in accordance with Constitutional provisions and parameters.