KARACHI, Feb 19: The caretaker chief minister of Sindh, Justice retired Abdul Qadir Halepota, has said that whoever commands a majority will be invited by the president to form a government in the centre.

He said that all the political parties accepted the results of the Feb 18 general elections, which proved the impartiality of the caretaker government in holding the polls.

The caretaker chief minister was speaking at a press conference held at the Chief Minister’s House here on Tuesday evening.

Justice Halepota said that the caretaker government had fulfilled the mandate given by President Pervez Musharraf by holding free, fair and transparent elections in a peaceful manner in which people freely exercised their right to vote.

“I am delighted that the caretaker government did not allow anyone to rig the elections and wherever someone tried to disturb the situation, the police, Rangers and other law-enforcement agencies took strict action without any discrimination”, he said.

The caretaker chief minister on behalf of his government thanked all the political parties, people of Sindh and particularly the print and electronic media for their cooperation during the polls.

Justice Halepota also praised the role of the police force, Rangers and other law-enforcement agencies and his administration in the holding of the Feb 18 elections to the satisfaction of all.

He also thanked President Pervez Musharraf for fulfilling his promise of holding free, fair and transparent elections.

The caretaker chief minister hoped that this election process would strengthen democracy and people would continue to get opportunities to express their views in a democratic way.

Replying to a question, Justice Halepota said that the new governments at the centre and in the provinces would be formed after notification of the official results by the election commission.

The Sindh chief minister said that the caretaker government had no say in the entire election process as it was solely the task of the election commission; however, the maintenance of law and order in the province was the responsibility of the caretaker setup.

Justice Halepota dispelled the notion that the government departments did not cooperate with the election commission in providing manpower for election duties.—APP