The caretaker set up's highest priority was holding transparent and impartial elections, caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Najam Sethi said on Friday. Vowing that the law and order situation would be maintained at all cost, he said that the caretaker government would ensure holding of elections in a peaceful atmosphere so that voters could exercise their right of franchise in a free and peaceful environment.
Sethi said that the caretaker government was fully capable of coping with the challenge of law and order and did not consider the challenge of ensuring security impossible, adding that the instructions of Election Commission for holding elections in a transparent and impartial manner will be implemented in letter and in spirit and all steps would be taken in the light of these directions. He said that as per instructions of Election Commission, a large-scale reshuffle will be made for impartial administration in the province.
He was talking to representatives of electronic and print media, senior anchorpersons, columnists and news editors in Islamabad on Friday. The Caretaker Chief Minister said that further improvement of law and order situation is very essential and impartial and competent officers will be deputed for this purpose. He said that all available resources will be utilised by evolving a comprehensive strategy for improving law and order situation and security.
Najam Sethi assured that complete protection will be provided to political rallies and public meetings to be held in the province. H Terming terrorism a major problem in the country, he said that all possible steps would be taken for to eradicate terrorist activities. He said that for the first time, impartial caretaker governments have been set up at centre and provinces, adding that previous caretaker governments had been established on political basis.
Najam Sethi said that although he had expressed no desire to become caretaker Chief Minister, but assured that he would try to come up to the confidence reposed by political parties in him and play his due role. He said that as many as six impartial and non-political Ministers would be inducted in the Punjab cabinet. He expressed the hope that no one would have any objection over his team. He made it clear that if efforts were made to prolong the caretaker rule, he would quit office.
Najam Sethi appealed that if there was anything wrong, he should immediately be informed so that action could be taken against unscrupulous elements. He said that there was no dearth of competent officers in home and police departments, capable of eradicating crimes and maintaining law and order and meeting all challenges. The caretaker Chief Minister said that the caretaker government is constantly in touch with Election Commission and he has also set up a special cell in his secretariat for this purpose.
Najam Sethi said that he held meetings with president of PML-N Nawaz Sharif, former chief minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, President of PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, former Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Munawar Hassan the other day and discussed in detail about holding of fair and transparent elections. The Caretaker Chief Minister said that he would meet the Head of Jamiat Ulema-ee-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday. He said that the chief of MQM Altaf Hussain had also talked with him on phone and congratulated him and assured of his co-operation.