ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The operation in Swat will end soon and elections will be held there on schedule, says Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz. Talking to media personnel at the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) headquarters on Thursday, he said: “There is no chaos and the environment is very conducive for elections. All election campaigns are being run peacefully.”

About the deposed judges, he said they were not under house arrest and there was no restriction on their movement. “Their statements are being published in newspapers. How can anyone say that they are being detained?” he asked.

He said the government would release the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan, if he promised to distance himself from activities affecting law and order.

“We are in contact with the Punjab government and we want to release him but he should also act responsibly.”

Earlier, the minister was briefed on the FIA’s performance.

Secretary Interior Kamal Shah and FIA’s Director-General Tariq Pervez also addressed the meeting.