Interim Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage and Law Affairs, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar Saturday congratulated the nation on holding of “free, fair and transparent general elections”. In a message broadcast on state-run television channel, the minister said that the ultimate winners of the whole electoral process of general election 2018 were the people of Pakistan. He said the sessions of national and provincial assemblies would be summoned immediately after the issuance of a notification of successful candidates by the Elections Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The caretaker government would be absolved from its responsibilities immediately after formation of federal and provincial governments. He said that the process of formation of new federal as well as provincial governments has already been started in the light of the verdict given by the people. The new governments would represent each citizen of the country and enjoy people’s confidence, he added. He said that the main aim of ordering the re-polling in some constituencies, where female turn out remained below 10 percent, was to ensure the participation of women in the electoral process. Congratulating the nation on behalf of caretaker Prime Minister Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk and his cabinet for holding free, fair and transparent elections, he said that elected representatives should now ensure progress and prosperity of the country. The minister also congratulated the loosing contestants and appreciated their participation and playing their role in strengthening the democratic process. He said that July 25th was surely a historic day in the country’s history as the general public exercised their right to franchise and electing their representatives as per their aspirations. He lauded the determination, discipline and commitment of voters for questioning their representatives of different constituencies during their respective election campaigns. He said the 2018 general election had many important features, including the overwhelming participation of female voters in many areas of the country where their participation was not encouraged. He said that overall atmosphere of elections remained peaceful as the whole nation participated in the electoral process considering it their national duty. The minister also expressed dismay and dejection over the loss of innocent lives in terrorist attacks in Peshawar, Mastung, Bannu and Dera Ismael Khan during election campaigns, adding that despite all these cowardly attempts, terrorists could not deter nation’s determination. He hailed the contribution of law enforcement agencies, including Pakistan Army, Frontier Constabulary and police, for extending their services to organize the general elections in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere. The whole nation is dejected and condemned the cowardly acts of terrorism. Terrorists have miserably failed to foil nation’s commitment to democracy. He said that the official notification of results would be issued by the ECP after consolidation of the results. Afterwards, the sessions of national and provincial assemblies would be summoned. Published in Daily Times, July 29th 2018.