Holding elections on time is above board: Information Minister

      ISLAMABAD, Sept 27 (APP): Minister for Information and
Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira reiterated Thursday that general
elections will be held on time and hoped to evolve consensus on
formation of caretaker government prior to completion of the
government's tenure.
      "Nobody should have any doubt that election will be delayed.
Caretaker government will be in place well on time and every effort
will be made to evolve consensus," he informed media in front of
Election Commission of Pakistan after ECP's meeting with political
parties.
      The minister appreciated ECP's decision to continue
consultation with political parties for evolving a mechanism for
holding free and fair elections.
      He reiterated the government's resolve to provide technical
support to ECP for holding free and fair elections. "Whatever
responsibility the Commission will assigned to the government, we
shall fulfill it."
      When asked to further explain about fulfillment of
responsibility, the minister said, from extending support he meant
to assist the Commission in forming error free electoral rolls,
ensure funds etc as he clarified that present government, caretaker
government and even the next government will be bound to obey the
orders of the Commission.
      Answering a question about formation of caretaker government,
the minister said, opposition had leaked couple of names and `you
are well aware about comments of Sardar Ata Ullah Mengal on their
proposal. "If anybody acts like that just for point scoring, it
meets the similar fate as in the case of Ata Ullah Mengal."
      He said this Parliament and the government will complete their
tenure on March 18, 2013 and consultation process should continue
for caretaker set up well on time. "Consultation is a constitutional
requirement and we will consult our allies, opposition parties and
even those parties who do not have representation in the
Parliament."
      When asked about credibility of the Commission, Qamar Zaman
Kaira said, he and his party had no doubt on credibility of Election
Commission. "This is a state institution and all parties have to
trust it. However, there are some capacity issues and the Commission
and political parties are discussing it. We do not have any doubt on
credibility of the Commission."
      The minister said the government always opted to resolve
issues through consultation even when there was tension and
reaffirmed to resolve the matter of caretaker government with
consensus.
      "If we could not evolve consensus, then there is laid down
constitutional procedure for putting in place caretaker set up.
There is nothing to worry about it," he said.
      To a question about representation of dual nationality holders
in the Parliament, the minister said, Overseas Pakistanis are more
patriotic than anybody else and always keep thinking about the
welfare of the country. But, it is decision of the court and the
constitution that they cannot be members of the Parliament.
      "It is beyond perception that dual nationality holders can be
part of executive, judiciary, bureaucracy, security agencies,
foreign office and nuclear program, but they cannot be members of
the Parliament," he stated.
      On the issue of false declaration, Kaira said, the government
respects decision of Supreme Court and Election Commission. But he
observed that around 90 percent MPs could have not studied the
provisions of article 62 and 63 in detail at the time of filing
declaration.
      "My observation is that whether this mistake was committed by
fault or deliberately. If any member filed false declaration
mistakenly, then I feel that it should be looked into," he said.