KARACHI: Aim of stable govt delaying transfer of power: Nisar
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 17: Federal Minister of Information Nisar A. Memon has said transfer of power from military government to elected government is a difficult matter, as there is neither any well-established principle nor is there any rule on this matter on the statute books.
So considering the situation where a hung National Assembly had come into being after the general elections, political parties needed to be given sufficient time to reach some understanding among themselves before the formation of government, he added.
The minister was responding to questions during an informal chat with journalists in a local hotel on Sunday where he hosted an Iftar-dinner party for senior journalists and editors.
Mixing freely among journalists, he was at ease in responding to questions pertaining to the delay in summoning the inaugural session of the National Assembly, followed by its postponement, meddling in politics by the principal secretary to the President, delay in inviting the leader of the majority party to form government, horse-trading and oath-taking by the President on Nov 16 without any schedule, autonomy of the Election Commission and the freedom of the press.
He was asked why the government avoided the recognized principle of inviting the leader of the majority party in the house to form government?
Defending the government’s strategy of facilitating the parliamentary parties in reaching some understanding to muster the required support and the decision of oath-taking by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, he said in a situation where the matter of transfer of power from military to elected government was involved, the government had to move cautiously not only for smooth transfer of power, but also for the sake of the stability of the future government.
Answering another question, he said he would remain in public life after the installation of the elected government. However, he had yet to decide whether to contest the elections to the Senate or not.
The minister categorically denied that the government was engaged in horse- trading, add agencies.
“This is baseless. The government has nothing to do with horse-trading. It is for the elected members of parliament to decide their future course of action. The MNAs are taking decisions according to their conscience,” he said.
Answering a question, he said Faisal Swaleh Hayat had made it clear that “he has responded to the call of his conscience.” Mr Hayat had not left the PPP nor had he formed a forward bloc in the party, he added.
Asked about floor-crossing by legislators, the minister said he could not explain its legal aspects, but said floor-crossing was allowed in many countries.
Mr Memon said President Gen Pervez Musharraf had taken courageous decisions during the past three years and fulfilled all his promises, particularly holding of general elections and transfer of power to an elected government.
The minister said the priority of President Musharraf was strengthening the democratic institutions in the country. He said the President had taken all decisions in the larger national interest.
He said both the electronic and print media were now more free because of the measures taken by the government in the past three years. The freedom of the press had been strengthened during the past three years by the government of President Pervez Musharraf.
“The government has formulated press laws in consultation with the organizations concerned in order to ensure the freedom of the press,” the minister said.
The PTV and the Radio Pakistan were now more independent. Likewise, the government-controlled Associated Press of Pakistan news agency was now functioning as a national news agency, he added.
He said the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), operating as an autonomous body, had given 22 licences for private radio stations. Licences for private TV channels were also being issued by Pemra.
Speaking at the 25th Annual Central Quran Conference, organized by the Tehrik Awam Ahl-i-Sunnat Pakistan at Bombay Bazaar, Kharadar, on Saturday evening, Mr Memon said the problems of Muslims can be solved if they follow the teachings of the Holy Quran.
Mr Memon said Muslims are facing problems because they are not united.
He said the government of President General Musharraf had made efforts to put the country on the road to progress and prosperity. The government had introduced reforms in governance, eliminated corruption from government departments, improved the economy of the country and introduced many mega projects, he claimed.
Earlier, the Nazim of Saddar Town, Farooq Fariya, said the local government was striving hard to solve the problems of the people. The Saddar Town administration was spending Rs75 million this year on various development projects in the Town.
In his address of welcome, the Chairman of the Tehrik Awam Ahl-i-Sunnat Pakistan, Mohammed Hanif Blue, highlighted the activities of his organization.
