Information Minister Arif Nizami said on Friday that this time the elections would be historic “because there is a neutral government and an impartial Election Commission”.
He expressed these views while addressing a one day forum on “Media Guidelines for 2013 Elections” held in Islamabad on Friday.
The event was organised by Democracy Reporting International in collaboration with Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation‚ Election Commission of Pakistan‚ South Asian Free Media Association‚ All Pakistan Newspaper Society‚ Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors‚ Press Council of Pakistan‚ Pakistan Federation Union of Journalists‚ and National Press Club.
Addressing the participants‚ the Minister for Information and Broadcasting Arif Nizami said media had a pivotal role during the upcoming general elections and the government would facilitate the free flow of information.
He said this time the elections would be historic because there is a neutral caretaker setup and an independent Election Commission.
He said the one and only agenda of the caretaker government is to ensure free‚ fair and transparent elections.
He said foreign observers and journalists will come to Pakistan to monitor the election process and the government will fully facilitate them.
He said that in a vibrant democracy people need to make informed decisions and choices based on the information and reporting done by journalists‚ which should be free of any biases‚ prejudices‚ and vested interests.
Media analyst of the EU Election Observation Mission Inta Lase said the mission would employ both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to monitor the media contents. She said for this purpose a sample of 6 TV channels‚ 2 radio channels and four newspapers have been selected on the basis of their reach‚ audience and other relevant factors.
Separately, talking to a private TV channel, Arif Nizami said that the caretaker government would implement the courts’ orders regarding former president Pervez Musharaf in letter and spirit.
“The former president could not be spared from law,” he said.
He said that the issue of Musharaf’s escape from court was being probed.
Talking to a private TV channel, Nizami said that the ministry of interior was also assuring security to Pervez Musharaf as he was under threat.
Replying to a question regarding secret funds in Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, he said that the issue was sub-judice and the caretaker government would implement court orders in letter and spirit in this regard as well.
“The caretaker government would stop the use of secret funds in the ministry,” he added.
Nizami said the agenda of the caretaker government was to maintain law and order and to hold polls in free, fair and transparent manner in the country.
He strongly condemned the terrorist incidents in Balochistan and Peshawar, adding that some elements in the country wanted to derail the electoral process.
He stressed on the need of cooperation among all political parties to maintain peace and tranquility during the electoral process.
