ISLAMABAD:
Rejecting speculations of early elections, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Thursday announced that the caretaker government will be installed after March 18 when parliament and the government’s tenure ends.
Talking to media personnel in Islamabad after attending the consultative meeting at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)‚ Kaira stated that the term of the incumbent government will complete on March 18 after which the caretaker set up will be brought in line with constitutional provisions.
“March 18 is parliament’s term [end] and on the same day, the government’s term will end too; therefore, the caretaker government is to be installed then,” said the information minister.
When asked whether disagreements would delay the caretaker setup, he said that just like in the past, everything will be done with consensus, adding that if consensus was not possible, there was a constitutional procedure in place which will be followed.
“There will be no delays in elections because of this [disagreement],” said Kaira, adding that neither the government nor the opposition would be able to take advantage from it.
He said the next general elections will be held on time in a free‚ fair and transparent manner. Consultations will be held with all the political parties, both within and outside parliament, for the installation of a unanimously-elected caretaker set up, he said.
Responding to a question‚ the information minister said all political parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had full confidence in the ECP and the commission was moving in the right direction by holding consultations with all parties.
PPP caretaker candidates
When asked about the government’s candidates for the caretaker setup, Kaira lashed out at the opposition’s decision to name candidates before time. He said consultations with all parties would be held when the time comes.
Taking a jibe at Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Kaira said: “If you want meaningful consultations, they will be conducted on time but if you want point-scoring, you can do it six months earlier.”
Expatriates and dual nationals
Commenting on the dual nationality case, Kaira said separating dual nationality holders from law making was strange — 99% candidates had no idea about this while submitting their nomination papers, according to him.
The minister said that he could not understand why dual nationals “should not be allowed to legislate but be allowed to sit in the bureaucracy, in the judiciary to make decisions, to sit in the security agencies of the country, to work on this country’s nuclear assets and in the Foreign Office. But this is a constitutional requirement and our heads are bowed because of it.”
Regarding overseas Pakistanis, he said: “I believe overseas Pakistanis think more about Pakistan than we do,” but added that it was a constitutional and judicial decision that barred them from the right to vote.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2012.
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Now the judiciary and not the parliament will run the nation . NRP are no more Pakistany . Stop sending dollers there . Take a wise step .