Govt not to allow sabotaging electoral process: Memon
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A. Memon Friday said the government would not allow anyone to sabotage the electoral process, ensuring all the people use their right to vote in a congenial environment.
“If any political party does not want to participate in the general election, it can do it. But no party can be allowed to forcibly prevent people from casting their vote on the Election Day,” he said here while talking to a delegation of young people from different fields of life.
The Minister said Pakistan is facing two kinds of terrorism, one in the form of suicide attacks and other by those who have resorted to follow confrontation based politics to halt the democratic process. He said, “Terrorist elements are attempting to weaken Pakistan but the government is fully alive to all the challenges. We are making all out efforts to ensure that effective and development oriented policies continue in the days to come.”
Nisar Memon said extremists can be anywhere in the world as there are also extremist groups that are carrying out their activities in the name of Christianity. “Civilised nations should make concerted efforts to shun extremism in the interest of the entire world. And this is the only way to ensure sustained peace for the people living anywhere across the globe,” he said.
Referring to role of the Pakistani troops in the UN peace keeping force, he said they are putting in their best abilities to make peace in troubled areas of the world. About Pakistan’s peaceful nuclear programme, he said President Pervez Musharraf has put in place an effective command and control system to protect our nuclear assets. He said, “We have an indigenous nuclear and missile programme that is aimed at ensuring minimum deterrence. Pakistan believes in a sustained peace and always contributes towards efforts meant for this purpose.”
The Minister said Pakistan is poised to become an enlightened, dynamic and modern country and everyone should play one’s due role in leading the country to progress and prosperity. Nisar Memon said Pakistan enjoyed cordial relations with neighbouring countries like China and wants to further strengthen bilateral relations on the basis of respect and equality. Talking about the activities of regional and international organisations including SAARC, ECO and SCO, he said Pakistan always extended its support to these organisations for the benefit of the whole world.
He said Pakistan is pursuing a plan on strategic development and establishment of Gwadar deep sea ort is part of such a plan, adding, national economy stands at 7 per cent GDP and it would further rise in future. “We are pursuing a gas pipeline project with Iran to meet our domestic energy requirements. The Neelum-Jhelum Project is going to be inaugurated soon that would further enhance our strategic development,” he said.Outlining the steps taken in the near past to provide equal rights to womenfolk, he said Women Protection Bill passed in the parliament was a landmark development towards providing full protection to women in the society.
Nisar Memon said the government fully recognized the rights of minorities and weaker sections of the society were enjoying full freedom and equal rights in every field of life. The Minister said freedom coupled with responsibility always led to a better future and hoped “our media will fully follow the code of conduct and help lead the nation to a better future.” Dilating upon the functions of the government institutions working under the Ministry, he said Pakistan Television, Associated Press of Pakistan, Press Information Department and Radio Pakistan are covering the activities of each and every political party in the country. The members of the delegation highly lauded the efforts being made by the government to bring progress and prosperity and enhance capacity building in all spheres of life.