Daily Times

“Caretaker Sindh government has already released Rs1 billion (bn) for refurbishment of facilities including construction of washrooms, restoration of power supply and missing allied facilities,” said the Sindh Chief Secretary (CS) Major (retd) Azam Suleman while talking to a delegation of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) on Saturday.

A delegation of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), represented by Kazi Asad Abid, Sarmad Ali, Javed Maher Shamsi and Ali Hassan met the CS on Saturday.

On the occasion, Sindh CS Azam Suleman told the delegation that the caretaker government was creating an environment of peace for holding transparent, fair and free general elections in light of directives and recommendations issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He said that the installation more than 20,000 close circuit television cameras (CCTV) was nearing completion at 5,673 sensitive polling stations. He informed the delegation that funds had already been released for this purpose.

The CS informed the delegation that code of conduct for general elections was being implemented strictly.

“This is for the first time in history that various political leaders and political parties have been issued notices for violating code of conduct,” he told APNS representatives.

In reply to a question referring to his recent visits of divisional headquarters of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Larkana and Shaheed Benazirabad, the CS said that he himself had visited divisional headquarters to review arrangements for general election 2018. “I will monitor all arrangements and implementations through video conferences with the concerned officers,” he said.

Azam Suleman Khan also stated that there would be complete ban on display of arms during the upcoming general election. He said that those people who were previously involved in creating law and order situation, public disturbance or violence were being directed to submit sureties and assurances. “All those creating disturbance or violence would be arrested if need be,” said the CS.

The APNS team expressed satisfaction over arrangements of caretaker government. While pointing out current law and order situation, the APNS representatives stressed on the need for extra security efforts. Responding to this, the chief secretary said that intelligence committees had also been formed in this regard and given all authorities.

The APNS delegation raised the issue of liabilities of its member publications and asked Sindh government to resolve issue. On this Information and Archives Secretary Qazi Shahid Pervez assued the delegation that claims of newspapers were being reconciled and verified.

Concluding the meeting, Sindh CS assured the delegation that issues of APNS would be resolved on priority. He added that media was not just the most important pillar of our country but was playing constructive role in holding free, fair and transparent general election.

Published in Daily Times, July 15^th 2018.