Daily Times

LAHORE: Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Dr Hassan Askari has congratulated the three Pakistani students for receiving the prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award.

In a statement, Caretaker Punjab CM Dr Hassan Askari said that Hassan Mujtaba Zaidi, Mahnoor Syed and Haroon Yasin have brought laurels home and proved that Pakistani youth is intelligent and capable of multiple talents. It is a reward of their hard work and these students are a proud asset of the country. There is no doubt that students like Hassan Mujtaba Zaidi, Mahnoor Syed and Haroon Yasin are a ray of hope for the country, concluded the chief minister.

Separately, the caretaker Punjab government has posted Habibur Rahman Gillani as the chairman P&D while Additional Secretary Muhammad Shahid Iqbal and Additional Secretary (Finance) Jehangir Anwar have been transferred and directed to report to the S&GAD. A notification has been issued by S&GAD in this regard.

Dr Hassan Askari has also said that the foremost priority of the caretaker setup is to ensure holding of peaceful and transparent elections adding that all the necessary arrangements are being made in this regard. He said the caretaker setup is totally impartial as well as apolitical. We neither have nor would have any political agenda, he added.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the caretaker CM said that we are here only for the holding of free, fair and transparent elections and would return back homes after fulfilling the responsibility in a proper manner. Every necessary step would be taken for the holding of transparent elections and voters will be accorded an opportunity to use their right of franchise in a peaceful and independent environment and the nation will not be disappointed by us.

Dr Askari said that all the political parties will be provided equal opportunities to take part in the elections and our different steps and performance in this regard would be the self-evident proof of it. He said that mechanism has been devised for peaceful holding of the elections. Conducive atmosphere would be ensured for voters and the caretaker setup will initiate every sort of steps to best maintain the law and order situation. He said that caretaker setup is working in an impartial manner within the scope of the constitution. No one would point a finger at it when the caretaker government will depart after fulfilling its duties. By the grace of Almighty Allah, we shall succeed to fulfill the moral and constitutional obligations, he concluded.

Published in Daily Times, June 29^th 2018.