Daily Times

The caretaker government on Wednesday said the speculations about the timely conduct of general elections 2018 had died down as the nation went to the polls in a free manner.

Talking to media men after casting his vote at a polling station in Johar Town, Information Minister Ali Zafar said the smooth polling process had also stifled the rumours that the general elections 2018 would not be held at all. To a question, Ali Zafar said the caretaker government had fulfilled its pledge of holding free, fair and transparent elections in the country. To a query, the information minister said the people were freely exercising their right to franchise, adding it was the voters who decide which political party would form the government.

Urging people to vote, he said people could not complain of disempowerment in society if they did not cast their vote in the general elections 2018.

To another query, he said the caretaker government was determined to hold the elections as the elections 2018 were necessary for the progress and solidarity of the country.

About claims of alleged rigging by a political party, he said all the statements were being made for political point scoring and had nothing to do with reality, adding it was a reality that more than 105 million people were casting vote without any restrictions.

He said the politicking would go on, stressing that the losing party should felicitate the victorious party in the elections.

Published in Daily Times, July 26^th 2018.