Daily Times

President Mamnoon Hussain expressing deep grief and sorrow over the death of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf candidate Ikramullah Gandapur in Dera Ismail Khan suicide attack, voiced his concerns over increasing incidents of violence during the ongoing polls canvassing.

Mamnoon Hussain directed the authorities concerned to ensure foolproof security to all the aspiring candidates, every inhabitant of the country and their properties, so that the general election could be held in a peaceful atmosphere.

He observed that it was the primary duty of the caretaker government and other concerned national institutions to ensure holding of a free, fair and transparent political process by removing all the hurdles, so that the country could be saved from the bitter experiences of the past.

Hussain also noted with concern that the increasing trend of intolerance during the electioneering was very painful which could further impact the political process.

He also expressed his grief over another attack targeting Akram Khan Durrani in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The president prayed for the soul of late Ikramullah Gandapur and expressed condolence with the bereaved family.

Caretaker Minister for Interior Muhammad Azam Khan also said that security should be provided to all political leaders of various parties to avoid any untoward incident in future.

The interim government was holding cabinet meetings regularly and taking short-term decisions for best national interest, he said talking to a private news channel.

The minister said, “We are assisting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold free, fair and transparent general election on July 25.”

He said the government or ECP were not providing political favour to any party and level playing field was being provided to all the parties to do election campaign, hold corner meetings, and public gatherings.

Muhammad Azam Khan said the decision to deploy Army on polling stations was taken after the ECP had appealed to caretaker government to do the same in order to ensure law and order.

He said Army officers would report to Returning Officers performing duties on polling stations about any rigging or other matters.

Replying to a question, he said National Accountability Court had arrested former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz and shifted them both to Islamabad peacefully.

He said all the facilities, as per jail manual, were being provided to Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.

Cabinet Sub-Committee comprising of three federal ministers was constituted regarding inclusion of Nawaz and his daughter’s name in Exit Control List, which had presented recommendations to federal cabinet which would decide about the matter, he stated.

Commenting on recent terror attacks, he said attack on Haroon Bilour was claimed by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and investigation regarding the attack on Siraj Raisani was underway.

Published in Daily Times, July 23^rd 2018.