PM assures EC of complete support
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro on Thursday assured the Election Commission that the interim government would take all necessary steps to facilitate free, fair and transparent elections on January 8, 2008.
The Prime Minister was talking to Secretary ElectionCommission Kunwar M.Dilshad who briefed him here at the PM Secretariat on the arrangements and the required logistic support for the upcoming elections.
The Prime Minister said the caretaker government would extend every possible support to the Election Commission to ensure conducive conditions to allow people to exercise their right of vote. The Prime Minister called upon all the voters to participatein the general elections and use their right of vote in the national interest. He also asked for early response and recommendations from all the political parties to improve thelogistic and other arrangements for the holding of free, fair and independent elections. He said the interim government would make efforts to createa peaceful atmosphere before and during the upcoming elections so that the people feel secure and safe. He said the caretaker provincial governments and the concerned law enforcing agencies have already been directed to maintain law and order duringthe period upto the election and later.
The Prime Minister lauded the efforts of Election Commissionfor making comprehensive arrangements for conducting the generalelections in a smooth and transparent manner. He said this is a national responsibility which must beundertaken with full dedication and commitment. The Prime Minister said that foreign and local media willhave an important role before and during the elections. He asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to coordinate necessary arrangements with the Election Commission to facilitate the functioning of journalists in the coverage of political events before the election and at the time of voting.
He also asked for all necessary assistance to the foreign observers who would come to see for themselves the election process. The Prime Minister stressed for wider dissemination of thecode of conduct issued by the Election Commission as well as the security code circulated by the Ministry of interior for the greater benefit of the voters, political leaders and their workers.