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| March 14, 2002 | Thursday | Zilhaj 29, 1422 |
ARD calls for caretaker govt to ensure fair elections
ISLAMABAD, March 13: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Wednesday demanded that a caretaker government should be formed to ensure fair, free and impartial polls, alleging that the introduction of special seats was an attempt to induct political “orphans” through back door.
The demand for the caretaker government was made by ARD Convener Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, flanked by Senior Vice-Chairman of PPP Senior Vice-Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim and PML (N) Senior Vice-President Zafar Ali Shah, here at press conference.
The ARD leaders accused the present government of having resorted to pre-poll rigging by initiating vilification drive of the political opponent via state-owned electronic media. But those toeing government’s line had been given protection, they added.
The government dolled uplift funds under the Khushal Pakistan Programme out also to its political favourites.
The ARD convener voiced reservations also over the electoral reforms including the introduction of women and technocrats seats and condition of graduation for the prospective candidates.
He termed the condition of graduation a violation of basic fundamental rights of the people to contest the elections. In a country where literacy ratio was below 30 percent with two percent graduates, the introduction of such a condition was quite strange, he added.
“If the candidates for provincial and national assemblies should be graduate then the candidate for president’s office should be Ph.D,” he said.
About the introduction of special seats, he said that in the British House of Commons the total strength was more than 600, but women representation was that high.
The veteran politician stated that they had formed a body of jurists and lawyers to challenge the constitutional amendments being contemplated by the government.
Flaying the delimitation of constituencies, he said that it was only the prerogative of the election commission, and the National Reconstruction Bureau or any other government institution had no role in it.
Nawabzada also termed the accountability process “selective”, and called upon the government to bring it to an end.
The convener reaffirmed his party’s plan to hold a rally on March 23, in Lahore, saying that it was the day when the Muslims of Subcontinent had set for themselves a clear goal and objective.
He urged the government to immediately lift the ban on political activities.
Answering a question, Makhdoom Amin Fahim said that they had been making arrangements for according a warm welcome to Benazir Bhutto.
She would certainly come back to contest the polls, he added.
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