Caretaker govt will fully remain at ECP’s service: Info minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Barrister  Ali Zafar on Friday said the caretaker government would lend full assistance to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in holding of free, fair and transparent elections.

Talking to a private TV channel, he said ECP is legally and constitutionally empowered and had finalised the arrangements in the four provinces for the election 2018.

“ECP is in contact with the provincial government for election arrangements in Balochistan”, he added.

He said there would be no compromise on the security during elections, adding the general election would be held on July 25 and the caretaker government would focus on ensuring security and safety of people. He said after the recent incidents of terrorism, security had been further tightened with Pakistan army being utilised as a resource to look after security affairs. Pakistan army, law enforcement institutions and security forces would perform duties, he added.

The minister said Election Commission had installed CCTV cameras at highly sensitive and sensitive polling stations.

He said due to the risk of terrorism, the cooperation of security institutions was indispensable. Army was called on the request of ECP for managing security affairs, he said.

He said keeping in view the ECP’s code of conduct, the political leadership should timely inform the administration and security agencies about their political activities.

To a question, he said the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), set up under the National Action Plan (NAP), is working satisfactorily and it should be further strengthened and made effective.

He said NAP, formulated with the consensus of all political parties, is being implemented.

The minister said external forces wanted that election ate not held in Pakistan, but with the assistance of the security institutions, these forces would be defeated. People and political parties were fully participating in the election campaign, he added.

He said a petition was filed before the election of 2013 for voting of overseas Pakistanis.  However, there was no result as no system for voting was developed.

Responding to question, the minister said according to the Punjab jail manual, the prison management could not give more or fewer facilities to prisoners.