Caretaker Interior Minister Malik Habib claimed that Nawaz Sharif is the only true national leader in Pakistan. PHOTO: FILE
Express News reported early on Tuesday that Khan during an interview said that Nawaz Sharif is the only true national leader and that he had been voting for the PML-N in the past.
Soon after, the Pakistan Peoples Party(PPP), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) demanded that action should be taken against the interior minister.
PPP leader Sumsam Bukhari, while talking to Express News, said that impartiality of interim government and election commission guarantees the transparency of the elections. By giving such statement, the interior minister has shown his biasness.
Bukhari demanded that the caretaker Prime minister should take notice of interior minister’s statement and remove him as he no longer remains impartial. The PPP leader further said that if the minister thinks that Nawaz Sharif is the only true leader in Pakistan then he should probably run the election campaign for the PML-N chief.
The PPP leader said his party would consider every constitutional way to lodge its protest including moving a reference with the ECP to remove Khan from his office.
PTI leader Shafqat Mehmood said that the basic requirement for the the caretaker government is the impartiality. Such controversial statements from the interior minister, Mehmood said, has shown his inclination towards one particular party which made his impartiality doubtful.
Mehmood demanded that minister should step down from his post voluntarily.
Muttahida Qoumi Movement (MQM) leader Raza Haroon said that such statements could raise questions on the election process.
Haroon, though, did not outright call for Khan's ouster. "It is the responsibility of the prime minister to take any decision to ensure free and fair elections by taking action against his appointees who are biased and partial."
A statement from MQM though called on the President to take note of the statement and remove the minister.
Later, Interior Minister explained that his job is to provide security and conduct free and fair elections and that his vote is for the public only.
COMMENTS (44)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
U guys might not believe it but I can bet on that this person is not even Malik Awan. Please do check his identity from Kahuta which caste he belongs to. A person who has dubious background to an extent that his caste which he uses is not his caste. U guys r the best judge to evaluate the person.
@salman: Yes you are right, ppp and mqm kept pakistan from being destroyed, right?
why do they need caretaker setup at all ? is their election commission not powerful enough ? Call T. N. Sheshan there for sometime.
@Aamer Khawaja: I don't like PPP and MQM but if they work with PTI to keep PMLN out that is fine by me.The Sharifs must be kept out of power.they will destroy Pakistan.
Not really the fault of the present IM. Anybody who occupies this post in Pakistan goofs up and for that one need not remind the idiocies of the former IM. The next IM who occupies this post after new govt is sworn in shall prove this superstition.
1st the Taliban n now the spoken person of the establishment(remember all these ministers were made after approval from GHQ) ...say no to rigged elections
He needs to go.
Also, just because a few parties "agree" on a certain stance and demand the same action DOES NOT MEAN there's a muk muka in place.
The free,fair and transparent elections in Pakistan are impossible.Therefore if any political parties are supposing that the next general elections shall be free,fair,transparent and impartial then they even never have to imagine it because such these types of ministers like caretaker Interior Minister shall never make it possible and by law,ethically and morally Malik Habib Khan has to resign himself voluntarily from interior ministry post because he has lost his credibility and trustworthiness by giving a supportive statement about/for Nawaz Sharif....
Just to repeat. He can have his opinion, but to himself. He can't go on media and favor anyone. That is AGAINST the job he is supposed to do.
With what face value do MQM and PPP demand his resignation, every a,b,c knows that majority of Sindh cabinet is full of pure PPP and MQM guys. All MQM and PPP activists are enjoying full govt backing. In this situation, a free and fair election seems to be a distant dream atleast in Sindh.
It is "muk-muka" between PTI, PPP and MQM !!
this is conspiracy against pml (n).
He should immediately step down from his assignment..........................though frankly there is little chance of it.........our nation is still far away from such moral standards.
It goes without saying that a caretaker minister has no favorites and shows no leanings. His job is to be above board and suspicion and saying nothing to upset the peace of the interim period. Probably, he is looking for a lucrative job after the elections. However, he must be removed hastily before any more damage is done to the integrity of other parties. Send him to a 'finishing school.' Salams
@Irfan Tariq: " Everyone has a right to a personal choice and opinion. No big deal, its just narrow mindedness and lack of acumen by political parties."
Everybody can have his/ her choice of opinion but when you say as Interim minister it shows your inclination towards a particular party. This makes ineligible for the post of interior minister ( to facilitate the free and fair election)
Mr. Tariq your acumen of understanding needs a revisit.
Most educated humans have opinions, likes and dislikes. However, when given (yes not earned or elected) a position of power and authority to be neutral they should behave as such. Most judges of any court and even empires/referees have personal opinions but they have to keep them checked otherwise they cannot provide fairness and justice. If he has any self respect he should resign or PM/President must sack him.
@Sigh.: "Now how are these elections supposed to be free and fair?"
I am an Indian so really do not have any dog in the game. HEre is how I see it. This gentleman was clearly tactless. There was no need to express his opinion. But if he truly wanted to give unfair advantage to PML-N, wouldn't it be rational for him to keep quiet about his personal preference but rather act on it? Now with him having expressed his opinion - clearly his actions will be under the scanner and he would be unable to do anything which smells of bias.
Do you think Mr. Khosa or Najam Sethi are not going to vote in this election? Of course tehy will and they should. IT is a patriotic duty to vote. So does that mean they cannot act in a fair and unbiased manner? No it does not.
Think about it.
@Ch. Allah Daad: I noticed that you were very supportive of PTI at the expense of PML-N in the attached url which was surprising given that you have been a longstanding PML-N supporter. Was this someone else posing as you? http://tribune.com.pk/story/532409/mixed-priorities/
Personally as an Indian I am not concerned with who wins these elections but was curious to see such an out of character post.
Although He must avoid such partial Statments But His Statement Shows that He is a straight forward and True Person Not like Majority of Other Politicians..... :)
we demand his resignation now!!!!
Looks like US want Nawaz Sharif this time.
Now how are these elections supposed to be free and fair?
We are a budding democracy, we have to get two things right and get them right fast if we want democracy to sustain in Pakistan: .
1. Learn to Elect Honest and Competent Leaders 2. Learn to hold accountable all Elected Representatives
. Not matter how much the 'saviours' of democracy cry, we have to get these two parts right. The interior minister should resign or face termination of employment.
Mian Nawaz Sharif is the only trusted leader and this gentleman spoke whatever truth is. We can understand PPP's culture but PTI also believes in a society where truth is forbidden.
@confused: You are not confused. You are focused. Lol
That's a dumb thing to say. No tactfulness at all, Mr ex IG? That also explains the law and situation in Baluchistan and why the criminals don't get prosecuted.
This (NS being the only leader) could be his personal opinion, which to me is utter rubbish. NS will not become 'the only leader' because of his opinion, nor will he become any less of a leader (in Punjab) due to people objecting to it on this forum. With independent judiciary, media and election commission, an individual's opinion who happens to be in care taker set up wouldn't make a difference. Khosa and Sethi have very clearly said that care taker governments' job is to help EC in conducting free and fair election. This guy has over stepped but calling for his head is an over reaction.
Everyone has a right to a personal choice and opinion. No big deal, its just narrow mindedness and lack of acumen by political parties.
This guy is an Nawaz Sharif puppet,He can't be impartial so rightly protested by PTI and others to show him the exit door..
he needs a permanent job thats way he made this statement...
If the minister thinks that Nawaz Sharif is the only true leader in Pakistan then he should probably run the election campaign for the PML-N chief. lol! Best lines in this article
A little sneak preview of the next alliance. PTI+PPP+MQM
I second that. Care taker set up should be bi-partisan. It doesn't mattar who wins in the end but atleast let this be a fair fight!!!
Shame
He has forfeited his position .... he should resign immediately or be sacked immediately......without delay.
Punjabi Establishment and PMLN is a 30 year old love story. Where's the news in this?
People naive enough to believe otherwise haven't read our history books...or have only read the ones with the establishment's rhetoric
The retired IG of Balochistan has been made Care-Taket Interior Minister, how does he know how to run a political appointment.
Sorry dear, now you have to go home.
ECP should now appoint an impartial caretaker Interior Minister and let Malik Habib Khan to survive on his pension only.
Really Dramma was, is nd will be going on in Pakistan? When our politicians will get lesson? It's enough, you have made whole nation psycho! Sincere request to all politicians, plz stop biting and pulling legs of each other! Have some patience! Let elections be held peacefully!
What was the interior minister thinking while making this statement knowing fully that all he has to do is to at least give the perception of being neutral for at just few months?
Such statements should not ne given,which raises concern in stake holders...we un professional attitude and action should be taken
Joke of a caretaker/Interim setup then. You CANNOT pass such statements on media, favoring a particular candidate. You've got to be IMPARTIAL.
Malik Habib must resign and apologize.
So he is impartial because he has an opinion? What has he actually done to display his alleged impartiality?