KARACHI, July 14: Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan said on Thursday that police and Rangers were capable of maintaining law and order during the upcoming local government elections in the province and he thought there would be no need for the army to be called in, though it would remain on stand by. He expressed these views while responding to a question after presenting a cheque of Rs5 million to the Karachi Press Club as grant from the provincial government.

“The government firmly believes that the election makes democratic institutions stronger,” he said adding that it would be its endeavour to ensure that upcoming local body elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner.

The governor said that the present provincial government was doing its best to maintain law and order with the help of police and Rangers and felt that the need for calling the army would not arise during these elections.

He claimed that the government would strictly follow the code of conduct enunciated by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

After giving the cheque of Rs5 million to the president of Karachi Press Club, Sabihuddin Ghausi, Ishratul Ibad Khan emphasized the government?s resolve to ensure freedom of the press and maintained that the amount of grant was being part of the annual provincial budget. He gave the assurance that the annual grant to the press club could be increased with the passage of time.

Responding to the points earlier raised by the KPC president and secretary, the governor assured that the government would increase its financial assistance for the development of the journalists’ housing scheme in Hawkesbay. He also promised to do the needful for 150 new members of the Karachi Press Club in housing scheme.

He asked the KPC office-bearers to submit a plan for the renovation of press club and assured that he would try to get as much financial support as he could.

At the end, KPC president and secretary thanked the governor and appealed to him to play his role in obtaining lease of the KPC premises.