KARACHI, Nov 19: Sindh caretaker chief minister Justice (retd) Abdul Quadir Halepota on Monday ordered immediate release of all lawyers and political workers. According to an official handout, he said that in order to create a conducive environment for the coming elections it was mandatory that “all detained people should be released throughout the province, so that they could take part in preparations for the polls.”

Earlier, Mr Halepota along with members of his cabinet visited the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, after taking the oath. They laid wreath at the mazar and offered fateha.

Talking to journalists, he said that the environment in the province was suitable for holding elections and made it clear that the caretaker set-up had no political intentions.

About ban on some news TV channels, he held out the assurance that he would make efforts in this regard.

Earlier, a 14-member caretaker of Sindh government was installed.

Those who took the oath as ministers and their portfolios are as follows: Akhtar Zamin (home), Dewan Yusuf Farooqi (finance), Haji Irshad Memom (Auqaf, religious and minorities affairs, Zakat and Ushr), Ijaz Shah Shirazi (agriculture and food), Nadira Panjwani (women development), Shujaat Baig (education), Ambar Raza Nancy (tourism, culture and youth affairs), Fauzia Lari (health), Arif Ali Abbasi, (labour, industries, transport, commerce and cooperation), Jalal Shah Jamote (planning and development), Jam Karam Ali (environment and information technology), Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi (communications and works), Dr Karim Mahar (fisheries and livestock) and Chaudhry Iftekhar Ahmed (law).

Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, after administering the oath, said that holding free, fair and transparent elections was the priority of the government.