Interim government to facilitate free, fair polls: Memon

Caretaker Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Senator Nisar A. Memon has said that the caretaker government is duty bound to facilitate the holding of free, fair and impartial elections and all necessary measures are being taken to achieve the objective.
"Come what may, the polls would be held on January 8. The return of Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif has also been facilitated and it shows the neutrality of the President. We are ensuring the provision of level playing fields to all the parties," he said in an interview with a private TV channel here on Wednesday.
When the comments of the minister were sought on the boycott strategy adopted by some political parties, he said: "We have left the boycott politics far behind. By and large, all the major political parties are taking part in the elections."
The minister said the revocation of emergency in the country within 42 days was an achievement of President Musharraf as there was no past precedent matching that.
"President Musharraf has fulfilled all his commitments. Military rules have come and lasted for so many years in the past. But now, democratic rule has been restored and the caretaker set-up is in place to hold polls according to the 1973 Constitution," said Memon.
He said he had directed the official media to ensure equitable coverage to all political parties, hoping that the private media would also ensure level playing fields for all political groups.
Senator Memon said the media in the country was totally free. "Even our media is exercising more freedom than in any country of the world. We have more freedom than that of the western countries. Neither do we give press advice nor we introduced embedded journalism and press embargoes," he said, and added that after the emergency imposition, there was no restriction on the print-media while the electronic media was restrained to ensure implementation of the code of conduct.
He said all the channels were back on air after following the rules while discussions with Geo TV were on. "The remaining channel would also go on air as soon as it complies with the law which is being followed by all other channels," said the minister.
He said the country was facing a false international propaganda launched against the nation from various other countries that media in Pakistan was not free. He said the media was fully free to report but they have to demonstrate responsibility. Senator Memon said the world community should focus on the resolution of the long-standing issues of Kashmir and Palestine.