Information Minister Kaira indicates elections in May 2013

Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has announced the caretaker government would take over around March 18, 2013 following the completion of the five-year term of the government, while general elections would be held 40 days after the caretaker set up took over.

Addressing a press conference, the minister said that there was a baseless propaganda making rounds about delay in election.

He noted, “There is a free media and independent judiciary which will never allow this (delay). Moreover, the government and parliament duly get the credit for completion of terms of the assemblies and a democratic transition of power will take place and by delaying the elections, all credit will become a discredit.”

Commenting on Asghar Khan’s case verdict, he said that the government would investigate the role of people like Hameed Gul in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

The minister observed, “This order has proved that the government installed after the 1990 election was illegitimate and its decisions need validation. A serious debate is on over the legitimacy of the then government and the issue should be resolved.”

Replying to a query, he said that the economy was in tatters and there was recession in international markets when the PPP-led government came to power in 2008.

Later, he said the country was hit by devastating floods in 2010 and 2011 and in such a situation bringing the inflation down was no meager achievement of the ruling PPP.

He continued that the Presidency was a political office and was part of parliament, adding that the president should be impartial but there was no bar on his meetings with political leaders.

In reply to a question about military offensive in North Waziristan, Kaira made it clear that the government had already clarified that no such operation would be conducted.

He said that if any decision was made by the political and military leadership, it would be shared with the media and the nation. Commenting on increase in public sector debt, he said in presence of Fiscal Responsibility Act, the government could not exceed the limit.

In reply to a question about CNG sector, he said filling station owners had their own viewpoint which would be presented to the Supreme Court.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Nov 1 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.