LAHORE, Nov 4: Punjab Governor Lt. General (retd) Khalid Maqbool has said that imposition of state of emergency and proclamation of Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) was aimed at foiling intentional efforts of certain elements to pollute the political atmosphere just before the general elections.

Talking to reporters at the Governor’s House here on Sunday, Mr Maqbool said that the government had extended cooperation with all “constitutional institutions” with sincerity and displayed flexibility at every stage.

All the pillars of the state were required to move towards the goals of transition towards complete democracy through the next general elections but unfortunately an atmosphere was created in the country aimed at shaking the confidence of the people in the government by presenting it as ineffective and crippled.

He said that certain forces wanted that the government should fail in its endeavours to arrange peaceful and fair general elections so that they could use the election campaign to achieve their designs during a period when the country could not afford to prolong uncertainty. The wave of violence would have continued unchecked if the government became ineffective and certain quarters would have continued ‘point scoring’ despite the government’s conciliatory attitude.

He said that emergency had been imposed as a last resort to restore peace and revive hope in society. The PCO would restore public confidence in the government. It had also given a clear message to investors from all parts of the world that uncertainty in Pakistan had ended.

The emergency and PCO were aimed at creating conducive conditions to hold general elections by ending uncertainty and taking effective steps to curb terrorism.

—Reporter