Pakistan Views

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Nisar A. Memon Monday declared that the government was ready for holding transparent elections on February 18 and said elaborate security plan had been made to ensure that maximum voters exercise their right of franchise on the D-day in a peaceful and calm atmosphere.

The Federal Information Minister made these remarks at a day-long conference held under the theme of Unite for Elections in collaboration with the PID Peshawar.

The minister conducted the conference in a candid manner, with briefings by the NWFP Secretary Home Badshah Gul Wazir, Secretary Information Arbab Muhammad Arif, Provincial Election Commissioner Akhtar Hussain Sabir on the election arrangements followed by working session and group discussions. The conference ended with the recommendations of the five working groups read out by group leaders one by one.

Over 70 journalists attended the conference from the print and electronic media, owners of the newspapers, columnists and editors. Country top media managers including PIO Rashid Ahmed Chaudhry and DG PID Habibur Rehman Zakori were present on the occasion.

Explaining the rationale for holding the conference, Nisar A. Memon said, it is meant to get feedback from the intellectuals and opinion makers under specific theme Unite for Elections. Similar conferences would be held in Balochistan, Karachi and Lahore with final one at Islamabad, which is likely to be addressed by the President. The journalists played the role of a bridge between the government and the masses, he said, adding, we want to further cement it as the more stronger it would be, better would be the results
The election activities would be made part of the national transmission on the Radio and TV and extensive coverage would be made of the same by deputing the representatives of the print and electronic media at the district level.

Expressing satisfaction over the election arrangements, the Federal Minister said, the government has made foolproof security plan to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the polls in the light of recommendations of the today conference. The coming elections are vital for the integrity and stability of the country as it would take the country forward on the path of democracy.

The Minister highly praised the recommendations outlined during the course of the conference and said such conferences would lead to gathering of collective intelligence to further fine tune the election process.

I am really impressed by the intellectual discussions and valuable input by the participants. I am taking a very positive and useful assessment he added.

The government, he said, was committed to provision of better infrastructure and facilities necessary for fair and free elections. Concluding, he said nobody should cast doubt on the government intentions of holding elections in time and urged the media men to work for creating awareness among the people about the value and sanctity of their votes with special reference to the cause of democracy.

In his inaugural remarks at the outset of the conference, the Federal Minister said, today Pakistan was passing through an historic phase and the history was being rewritten with an elected Senate, Local Government bodies intact and elections for the National and Provincial Assemblies were on card.