KARACHI, May 12: Federal Minister of Information Nisar Memon has said general elections will be held in October this year, and all necessary amendments to the constitution, in accordance with the mandate given by the Supreme Court, will be announced before the election schedule so that the people can debate and discuss all their aspects.

He said NADRA had already been asked to prepare updated electoral lists of people of 18 years of age, but it was facing difficulties on account of preparation of national ID cards.

The minister, who was talking to a group of newsmen here in his residence on Sunday afternoon, in reply to a question said in the first phase electoral rolls were being updated of all those who had reached the age of 21 years, and in the second phase the exercise of preparing lists of those would be carried out who would attain 18 years of age by October.

Answering another question, Mr Memon said all reforms being introduced in the country, including those pertaining to local government, financial matters and autonomy to provinces, would be a part of the constitutional package which was being worked out.

He said contrary to the political government of the past when constitutional amendments had been carried out without any debate, this government was not following this practice and, as in the case of the local government system, the people would have sufficient time to discuss and debate the amendments.

The minister said the press enjoyed complete freedom. Even the electronic media, both radio and PTV, had been at liberty to report events in true perspective.

About the suicide bomb blast in Karachi in which 11 Frenchmen and three Pakistanis have been killed, he said some suspects had been arrested in this connection. Besides local agencies, French and FBI teams had also been involved in carrying out investigation. He said their joint investigation pertained to the technical side to find out what chemicals were used in the bomb.

They got some leads over phone and the teams were working, he said, adding that the Sindh police chief had been briefing newsmen on the progress in the investigation of the May 8 car bomb case.

Asked when the government would give permission to the private sector to operate TV channels and radio stations, the minister said Nepra was an independent authority which had been seized with finalization of the rules of business and the setting up of its offices, and he hoped that the Authority would begin functioning soon.