ISLAMABAD, May 7: Information Minister Nisar Memon said on Tuesday that political parties were free to hold indoor activities and express their views through media and it was the Election Commission which would allow full-fledged activities including public gatherings near October elections.

“The political parties have freedom of expression, there is no bar on their indoor political activities, as for the large public gatherings, it is the Election Commission that will announce full-fledged activities close to the October 2002 elections,” he informed a large representation of foreign diplomats based in the capital.

Foreign Secretary Inamul Haq was also present on the occasion.

Replying to a question after presenting an account on the objectives of holding the April 30 referendum, Nisar Memon said that the election campaigns were traditionally carried out at a very high pitch and their progression for a long time cast a negative impact on national economy.

“The government is for not continuing the heat, because it does affect the economy — every time the elections are held, two to three months’ time for the politicking is given, because the country cannot be in the state of politics all along,” he added.

“Right now the politicking by parties is there and it is indoors, plus the newspapers are free to air their views.”

“The electronic media are accommodating the views of political parties and the print medium gives them space and there is not one single newspaper owned by the government.”

The information minister said now that the referendum was over, the focus was on October elections.

“The elections will be held in October 2002, and the Election Commission has started the process.”

“The government is not going to be a party in the elections — it is for political parties to contest the elections — we will not contest the elections.

“Nor is there any King’s party — the government wants to fulfil the objectives as mandated the Supreme Court within the three stipulated years.”

“The government will also work on constitutional amendments as also mandated by the Supreme Court,” he said.

Reverting to the reasons behind the holding of referendum, Nisar Memon said, the government did not want to work under the shadow of instability caused by doubts created by some political parties about the continuation of Musharraf government’s reforms and policies.

“Working under a shadow of uncertainty would have been detrimental to country’s economy which has been retrieved from the perilous edge of collapse due to last two-and-a-half-year’s policies.”

The information minister said that President Musharraf went to public to put an end to uncertainty and instability.

“The changes in the governments and changes in the policies in the recent past took a heavy toll on the economy which is evident from the hefty amounts spent on massive projects like the Motorway,” he said.

Nisar Memon informed the diplomatic gathering that some political parties opposing the referendum had a pre-conceived stand on the voters’ turnout in the referendum.

“Their stand was politically motivated, first they said they will vote against the president and then seeing people’s response to president’s call, they said they will boycott the voting.

“First they said, the voters turnout will be a mere five per cent and then the ARD conceded that it was about 10 per cent - an increase by 100 per cent,” Nisar memon said.—APP