Caretaker Govt acted in impartiality: Memon
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Nisar A Memon Thursday said, the caretaker government acted in impartiality during polls and won appreciation from the international community to hold elections in free, fair and transparent manner.“We dispensed our legal, national and constitutional duty to hold free, fair and transparent polls paving way for smooth transition and strengthening democracy,” he said winding up debate on political situation in the country, in the Senate.
“All our actions were in line with the constitution. We tried to be true to our oath of the office, now the nation is better judge of our actions,” he added.
He said the caretaker government owed the responsibility to ensure continuity of democracy and the policies and it fairly dispensed with its duty.
“All parties enjoyed full freedom to election campaign and participate in the process. There was also no bar on any leader’s coming back to Pakistan,” he added. He said after taking oath on January 16, the caretaker government had decided to fully support the Election Commission for free and fair polls and provide conducive environment to political parties. “And thank God, we successfully sailed through it.”
“The same day, we had also decided to release around 5000 detainees and the decision was implemented within next ten days except release of three people who were kept house arrest due to law and order situation,” he said.
He said it was for the first time that Election Commission, through its website, made available all information about electoral rolls, polling scheme and other preparations, to everybody concerned.
He said more than 800 foreigners including European Union, United Nations and US Observers and experts and 1000 foreign journalists closely monitored the proceedings and described the elections free, fair, transparent, peaceful and credible. Nisar Memon spoke highly of the President Musharraf’s endeavors for strengthening democratic process, smooth transition, socio-economic uplift and women empowerment.
He particularly mentioned to President’s decision to allocate seats for women in Senate, National Assembly and Local Governments and said during last government there were 28 women members in the Senate, 71 in National Assembly and 148 in provincial assemblies.
Hundreds of women also played an active role in politics at local level, the minister added.
“Is it not a historic reality that transition was smooth. The Senate is there and National and Provincial Assemblies have completed their five year term,” Memon said.
He said the President also fulfilled the promise of shedding uniform, strengthening institutions and smooth transfer of Command and “his contribution should be acknowledged.”
The minister expressed heartfelt grief over sad incident of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and said, “I salute her sacrifices for democracy as well as the political parties, particularly PPPP for contesting polls despite such a heart rending incident.”
He said President Musharraf also announced three-day national mourning on Benazir’s assassination.
He said certain elements exploited Benazir’s assassination to destabilize the country but political forces stood firm to their commitment for strengthening democratic process in the country.