Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira. – Photo by APP

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Thursday said that poll rigging in 1990 elections was a robbery against democracy in the country.

Talking to a private television channel, he said that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) should tender an apology to the nation for subverting the people's mandate in the 1990 elections.

He said that Shahbaz Sharif is not in favor of an investigation from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which is a sign of disrespecting the judiciary and Apex court decisions.

He urged the PML-N leadership to respect the verdict of the court and face investigation.

The minister said that during 1990 elections, an interim set up was not neutral.

He added that the elections were totally maneuvered by the agencies to hatch a conspiracy against Benazir Bhutto and democracy.

Replying to a question, he said that the PML-N leadership also favored different participants of the past interim set up including Rafiq Tarar, Ghulam Haider Wain and Younus Habib after establishing a government with poll rigging.

He said that exercising of fake balloting in past elections also destroyed the image of free and fair elections in the country.

The information minister said that Benazir Bhutto statements about poll rigging in the 1990 elections were proved correct.

Replying to another question, he said that action against individuals involved in misusing public money would be taken according to the law.

Kaira said that Islami Jamhori Itehad (IJI) was made by former generals and the then establishment.

He said that Pakistan Peoples Party had been facing many false cases in the past.

Opinion

Editorial

Bulldozed bill
Updated 22 May, 2024

Bulldozed bill

Where once the party was championing the people and their voices, it is now devising new means to silence them.
Out of the abyss
22 May, 2024

Out of the abyss

ENFORCED disappearances remain a persistent blight on fundamental human rights in the country. Recent exchanges...
Holding Israel accountable
22 May, 2024

Holding Israel accountable

ALTHOUGH the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor wants arrest warrants to be issued for Israel’s prime...
Iranian tragedy
Updated 21 May, 2024

Iranian tragedy

Due to Iran’s regional and geopolitical influence, the world will be watching the power transition carefully.
Circular debt woes
21 May, 2024

Circular debt woes

THE alleged corruption and ineptitude of the country’s power bureaucracy is proving very costly. New official data...
Reproductive health
21 May, 2024

Reproductive health

IT is naïve to imagine that reproductive healthcare counts in Pakistan, where women from low-income groups and ...