Some elements creating obstacles for democracy ahead of elections: Ahsan Iqbal

Interior minister says some 'defeated forces' are trying to impede in the way of general elections

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Saturday that there are some elements that don’t want democracy in the country, Express News reported.

Speaking to media in Lahore, Iqbal said that the 200 million Pakistanis have the ownership of democracy and democratic forces. He continued saying that there are some decisions that are made to curtail the democratic process in the country, but people know the real faces of such elements now.

Conspiracies that were hatched 20 to 30 years ago will not work anymore, he said. "There are some defeated forces in the country, who out of fear of democracy, are attempting to sabotage the elections and the democratic process."

“Today's Pakistan is different from the country it was five years ago. We have changed the course of the history in these five years by defeating terrorism. We’ve stabilised the economy; extortion is not rampant in Karachi and PSL tickets are being sold out.”



Due to a strong economy, Pakistan is not considered as a dangerous state as there are no major terrorist attacks taking place.

On general elections to be held this year, the interior minister recalled that rumours were prevalent before the Senate elections that the assemblies would be dissolved, but that never happened.

"I invite all opposition parties to dialogue so that we can decide an interim setup through a transparent process,” he said.

Iqbal said he hoped all the opposition parties would accept a neutral interim setup in the federal and provinces so that the elections can be held on time.



He asserted that it is the government that will decide which names are pu ton the Exit Control List (ECL).

On Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf, the minister said that if a former prime minister of the country could face the courts, despite his wife ailing from cancer, then surely a hale and hearty ex-general could also face the courts.

"He [Musharraf] shouldn’t be worried about his security. If he faces the courts, he will be respected by many,” he added.