Caretaker Interior Minister Malik Habib. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) took notice of remarks made by interim Interior Minister Malik Habib Khan regarding Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, Express News reported on Tuesday.
The commission also summoned the video of the interview in which Khan said that Nawaz was the only true national leader and that he had been voting for the PML-N in the past.
Earlier during the day, Khan held a press conference in Islamabad where he said that he has left his past affiliations behind and is an impartial caretaker minister.
“If there is any evidence against me being biased, please make it public,” Khan said.
He further said his mission as an interim interior minister is to provide good security during the elections.
A number of political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), had demanded an action to be taken against the ‘partial’ caretaker minister.
COMMENTS (30)
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@Shujja: Collecting charity and making memorial of his mother. It is 'halvai ki dukan par dadaji ki fatiha'.
Two wrongs dont make one right.
You guys are going on like he has done a real bad thing that's why pakistan is where it is .think about what imran is doing collecting charity and paying him self and other one buying flats in London for 140mil when people have no electric or food
Looks like truely nuetral caretaker Govt . is in punjab only..Changing all beauracracy , police officers etc. Small cabinet. In other provinces you feel like muk muka govts are functioing , and even looting and mis giovernance continues as a deal between parties. Noise was begining on this issue but a very timely rescue came in shape of this staement.
The establishment should sack him immediately and the voters his favourite. 'khass kam pakistan pak'.
His statement was poetically incorrect and frankly quite unnecessary. Does that however mean that he will let his personal preference impact his professional duties? I don't think so. If that had been the intent, it would've made more sense for him to simply keep quiet about the whole thing and act according to his bias.
Whether caretaker prime minister or his cabinet or caretaker CMs or their cabinet, I am sue all of them plan to vote in the upcoming elections - which means surely they prefer one party over another. There is no reason to assume that they are incapable of setting aside their personal preference and act in an biased manner. Not justifying the statement which was completely unnecessary but this brouhaha also seems to be more of a storm in a teacup.
“If there is any evidence against me being biased, please make it public,” Khan said.
Bias is a mindset. Words are the evidence.
@truth: non-punjabi, yes, but how many are sindhi or baloch?
@Nida Ali: " All these persons have been political appointees. When will the ECP open its eyes??? But Mr.Ali they were not the part of the caretaker government whose job is to facilitate free and fair election only. All ministers under care taker set up must display impartiality
A gentleman will resign immediately by putting his foot in mouth. Did anyone told him that engage the brain before engaging the mouth, as a neutral interior minister, he should not be saying what he said and influence the voters. After this episode he is no long credible interior minister. Well, we had one before him who had no credibility so what is new any more.
Poor guy is not media savvy and is now facing the consequences. He definitely has to go back to what he was doing before becoming a interim interior minister.
What about appointment of Njam sethi punjab-CM? A flagrant violation of ECP- laws article 62 violation?
If anything he should be appreciated for his honesty that he in the past used to support a political figure. That is surely not a grounds for his automatic removal. Sorry but I do not understand the controversy here.
I saw his complete interview in ARY and was shocked to hear the same, further more he said he will vote of his friend who is from PML N. There he should be fired without any further delay
I do not know what wrong with this ministry ??? our Interior minsters talk much and do noting .
ECP should remove from the post.
He mentioned his past affiliations, what's wrong with that
@truth: You forgot Lt Gen (R) Moinuddin Haider in Musharraf period.
think b4 you speak mr interior minister. You cannot guard your tongue how would you maintain security during the elections - Due to high risk involved in these elections elections EU has refused to send its observers. How will you safeguard the lives of citizens? plain and simple question.
Despite of his clarification, he should be sacked by PM Khoso to set up an example. He will remain bias no matter how much he clarifies.
@ Sindhi Pakistni Why this injustice was not addressed by the three former Sindhi Prime ministers and the incumbent Sindhi President of Baluch origin.
Sack him ASAP.
@Sindhi Pakistani................please gorw up and act like an educated man and please do your home work before giving any sweeping statement......here is the list of non-punjabi interior ministers of Pakistan:
Khwaja Shahabuddin May 8, 1948 November 26, 1951 Jalal-ud-din Jalal Baba November 26, 1951 October 24, 1954 Iskander Mirza October 24, 1954 August 7, 1955 A. K. Fazlul Huq August 11, 1955 March 9, 1956 Zakir Husain June 14, 1960 June 8, 1962 Khan Habibullah Khan Marwat June 13, 1962 March 23, 1965 Ayub Khan March 23, 1965 August 17, 1965 Vice Admiral (R) Afzal Rahman Khan December 5, 1966 March 25, 1969 Sardar Abdur Rashid Khan August 4, 1969 February 22, 1971 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto December 24, 1971 May 1, 1972 Abdul Qayyum Khan May 13, 1972 January 13, 1977 Mahmoud Haroon July 5, 1978 November 18, 1984 Maj Gen (R) Naseerullah Babar October 21, 1993 November 5, 1996 Aftab Ahmad Sherpao August 25, 2004 November 15, 2007
He needs to go!
It really doesn't matter what he says now...he has lost his credibility to perform his role of which complete honesty and impartiality are the core ethical pillars. He should have had a good thought and right selection of words before opening his mouth.
You made your intentions quite clear is this not enough
He openly stated his intentions of faouring one party. I can't find a better reason to throw him out of the caretaker setup.
Now we should expect disclaimer from other "caretaker" appointees as well. They should also announce to shun their past affiliations. Similar disclaimer should be made by MQM's Governor (Ishratul Ebad), PPP's Governor (Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood) and PPP+PMLQ's Governor (Zulfiqar Magsi).... All these persons have been political appointees. When will the ECP open its eyes???
Sorry to say this but will the establishment trust a Sindhi or a Baloch to be the Interior Minister? Who was the last Sindhi-speaking or Balochi-speaking Interior Minister?
I am curious
making an issue out of tissue