THATTA: Ruling out any possibility of postponing the local government elections, Sindh Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that arrangements in this regard have been completed and all necessary measures to ensure holding of the polls in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful manner have been taken.
The minister was speaking to journalists at Makli Gymkhana on Monday after inaugurating a birth registration facility established by his department with the assistance of Unicef and a private mobile phone service provider firm. The facility will help people seek registration of their newborns by mobile phone.
The minister’s comment was also sought on the statements and political activities of estranged PPP leaders including Dr Zulfikar Mirza, Nabeel Gabol, Safdar Abbasi and Naheed Khan. He said: “I have great respect for all of them but the masses and media are well aware of their character ... They cannot befool the public any more.”
Commenting on the recent statements by some Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders about rescheduling of the polls, Mr Shah explained that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had some reservations and it had had moved a petition in the Sindh High Court.
The PPP also had some reservations over the delimitation issue and it was considering moving the Supreme Court. However, the delimitation issue had since been resolved while the other issues would also hopefully resolved in the days to come.
He insisted that the PPP vote bank in Sindh was intact despite these leaders’ propaganda against it’s leadership.
“Some people had left the PPP for political gain though in vain. And one of them defected to the MQM but failed to see his dreams materialised. They have now opted for a party of their own,” he remarked.
The minister said that every citizen had the right to contest in election and form or join an electoral alliance. However, he added, the Sindh PPP was strong enough to hand a defeat to all its rival parties and alliances as it had deep roots in the masses.
Law and order
The LG minister said that the government had taken all measures to ensure peace and harmony during the month of Muharram and the election process. Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had been holding meetings with the police and Rangers chiefs in the province as well as heads of all relevant departments on a regular basis.
Law enforcement agencies had been put on high alert and security at and around congregation places had been beefed up.
Mr Shah said that the municipalities across the province had been directed to ensure cleanliness and availability of potable water to citizens. He said similar directives had been issued to the relevant officials in Thatta and Sujawal districts.
Earlier, addressing the inauguration ceremony, the minister highlighted importance of the newly-introduced facility and said that birth registration by mobile phones would provide considerable relief to the residents of far flung areas.
It would also help government keep an updated record and do planning for social welfare more effectively. He asked the officials concerned not to charge any free for birth certificates.
He said no slackness or negligence by any official or employee would be tolerated.
In reply to a question, he said that “ghost employees” would have to face action and those who had been recruited illegally and were receiving salaries in connivance with unscrupulous officials would be taken to task howsoever influential.
Unicef country representative Angela Kearney, LG Director General Fahim Junejo, Thatta Deputy Commissioner Nadeemur Rehman Memon, SSP Fida Hussain Mastoi Telenor representative Frank Dangeard were among those who attended the ceremony.
Fuente: http://www.dawn.com/news/1214170/lg-elections-not-to-be-rescheduled-says...
