20th Amendment to ensure credibility of Election Commission, caretaker government: PM

Speaking at the National Assembly after tabling of the 20th Amendment Bill and a point raised by Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan about the bill, the Prime Minster Minister said the government wanted to hold the general elections in a free and transparent manner so that nobody could raise finger over its credibility and impartiality.

"We want to ensure a full autonomous Election Commission for holding free, fair and transparent elections in the country so that no political party, like in the past, raises voice of rigged elections," the Prime Minister said.

He said the caretaker government would be fully neutral so that it could not give an impression of its association with any political party.

The Prime Minister said that a lengthy debate between the government and the opposition was held to evolve consensus on the 20th Amendment. A special meeting of the Federal Cabinet was convened to give its unanimous approval.

Agreeing with a point of Chaudhry Nisar, he said that there were some forces outside the Parliament, which wanted to scuttle the 20th Amendment. But he added,"We are the leaders in the Parliament and its is our right to give direction." About the parliamentary committee constituted to review petroleum prices, the Prime Minister said that the committee would soon start work on it to give relief to the public, as it was a problem of the entire country.

He agreed to the suggestion of Leader of the Opposition to adjourn the assembly session for some time to remove hitches present in the draft of 20th Amendment.

Regarding the issue of no opposition in Sindh, the Prime Minister assured that a judicious system would be introduced in all the provinces and the suggestions of Leader of the Opposition would be implemented in this connection.