HYDERABAD, Nov 30: Caretaker government will ensure fair and free elections to strengthen democracy in the country, said Sindh Minister for Auqaf, Zakat, Ushr and Minority Affairs, Haji Irshad Ahmed Memon.

He was talking to reporters at Matiari during cheque distribution ceremony of the Auqaf Department among poor and disabled persons, on Thursday. He distributed about Rs200,000 among the deserving people.

President Pervez Musharraf had fulfilled the promise to doff his uniform he said and urged the political parties to participate in elections.

To a query regarding malpractices in Auqaf Department, he reiterated his resolve to cleanse the department of corruption in the short tenure he had and pledged to take action against those responsible. “I’m not a politician but would serve people honestly and without discrimination,” he said.—Bureau