The election commission has not yet written to the federal interior ministry asking for army’s help in the voter verification process in Karachi and if it has, Rehman Malik is unaware.
In line with an apex court decision, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the timetable for voters’ verification with the help of army - if required - starting from January 5 and expected to be finish before the end of February, just weeks ahead of the upcoming general election.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) respects the apex court decision on delimitation and verification of voters but the election commission needs to go through the interior ministry for approval of Frontier Constabulary (FC) services, said Malik, the federal interior minister, who was speaking to the media after meeting President Asif Ali Zardari at Bilawal House.
About the PPP-Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) alliance, he said the parties will continue together in the next election as well and he would carry on with his “mediation” role between the two. “The coalition partners would foil all conspiracies,” he added.
The minister, terming his visit to India a “milestone”, said he had made a breakthrough in the implementation of a liberal visa policy between both the countries. “I have asked the Indian government to open a consulate in Karachi so that people of Sindh can easily get visas. Similarly, Pakistani government would set up its consulate in Bombay,” he said.
About the attack on polio vaccinators, Malik said all arrangements have been made to provide full security to the anti-polio teams in sensitive areas. “We have also asked police and paramilitary forces to chalk out their plans,” he said.
When the reporters asked if the government would share the findings of Benazir Bhutto murder case before her death anniversary on December 27, the interior minister said: “I will present the report before the central executive committee members. It is their discretion to disclose the findings.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2012.
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