MULTAN: Caretaker chief minister Hasan Askari Rizvi says the administrative responsibilities in connection with elections have been increased due to rise in the number of polling stations.

Mr Rizvi told a press conference here on Tuesday that “the basic mandate of the caretaker government is to ensure the conduct of the election and the entire process is being monitored through the administration and the media.”

He said equal opportunities were being provided to the candidates of all the political parties to run their election campaigns and election bylaws implemented through administration and police.

“The election commission approved the transfers and postings in the province and is also taking notice of the law and order situation in major cities. It will be ensured that such incidents don’t take place again and action will be taken on the complaints of candidates regarding transfers and postings,” he said.

He said the election commission was looking into the matter of the raid conducted by the agriculture department on the godown of a PML-N candidate. The incident hit the headlines when the politician first claimed that officials of a security agency beat him at his godown but then retracted the statement and said it was a team of the agriculture department that conducted the raid.

“Hopefully such incidents will not take place in the future,” Mr Rizvi added.

He said the civil administration at district and divisional levels had been directed to address the election-related complaints immediately while the candidates should also inform the administration if they have any complaint.

The caretaker CM said it was the priority of the government that the ongoing health projects continued without the shortage of funds. He said Rs1 billion had been allocated for Nishtar II project while keeping in view the burden of patients in the hospital. He said the emergency wards of 13 major hospitals in the province are being upgraded.

He visited the wards of the Nishtar Hospital and got briefing on the facilities being provided to the patients. He also inquired after the patients.

He refused to analyse the prevailing political situation saying his position does not allow him to do so but he will be available for it after elections.

Meanwhile, he presided over a meeting of commissioners and regional police officers of Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions regarding administrative and security arrangements for elections. He said special arrangements would be made to avert any untoward incident on the election day and polling material would be transferred under strict supervision.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2018