Govt to ensure order before & after polls: Memon
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A. Memon Wednesday said that no one would be allowed to create any law and order situation before and after the February 18 elections.
Talking to media after a ceremony held at PTV headquarters in connection with its marathon transmission of Elections 2008, he said maintaining law and order situation is the responsibility of the caretaker government and it is fully alive to the situation. To a question about the status of National Reconciliation Ordinance, he said it is up to the political parties to decide on it in the next parliament.
Answering a question, he said if any political party has complaints against any one, it should submit them before the Election Commission which is addressing each and every such complaint at the earliest. To another question he said, “Upcoming general elections would be held in free, fair and transparent manner and all the political parties are being provided level-playing field.”
“Correspondents of over 50 local and 30 foreign channels are monitoring the electoral process besides foreign observers sent by international organizations,” he said. The Minister said the Election Commission has posted complete information with regard to election mechanism on its website for anyone wanting to ascertain details like polling stations, computerized voter lists and other matters.
Nisar Memon said people are highly motivated to participate in the general elections and the electoral process is gaining further momentum. To a question, he said foreign observers could not be allowed to visit risky areas. “That is why they have been instructed not to go to such areas,” he said. The Minister said surveys released by IRI and TFT carry no truth as they have no knowledge about the local conditions here.
“How such people who live thousands mile away can assess the situation by talking to a handful of people. Pakistan has 160 million population and a few hundred people cannot represent whole population,” he said. He also referred to some other surveys that showed that 95 per cent of Pakistanis give credit to President Pervez Musharraf for media growth and they are also of the view that media should always fulfill its responsibility.
About reports of expected arrest of APDM leaders, he said the Interior Minister has himself clarified the situation and denied such reports. He said media should verify the information before presenting it before the people because any unverified information is just a rumour. Earlier, addressing the ceremony he said all state-run media organizations are giving equitable coverage to all the political parties.
“We believe in complete freedom and PTV, PBC and APP are covering the activities of all the political parties without any discrimination,” he said. The Minister lauded the arrangements made by PTV to provide quick and authentic information to the people on the election. PTV MD Yousaf Baig Mirza in his presentation explained salient features of 72-hour marathon election transmission to provide all information using hi-tech equipment.
“Mobile users will also have access to PTV transmission and results of all the national and provincial assembly constituencies,” he said. He said the On-Demand, Live Audio and IVR services would also be made available to the common people.