Actions of investigation agencies not to affect elections, says minister

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Syed Ali Zafar says it is the right of the investigation agencies to act according to law and their actions will not have any effect on the elections.

Speaking to media after attending a seminar here, he said if anybody had any objection to the action of an investigation agency, he can approach the court.

It was not the work of governments to interfere in the investigations of agencies or in the court proceedings, he added.

He said those who had complaints could approach the Supreme Court and High Court, which would take action according to the principles of justice. The minister underlined the need for steps to empower the institutions and make them independent.

The minister said foolproof security arrangements would be ensured for peaceful elections. Security would be provided at the polling stations as the need would arise.

To another question, he said he wanted to assure the nation that elections would be held on July 25 and it was responsibility of the caretaker government to hold free, transparent, impartial and peaceful elections.

He said disaster management was also responsibility of the provinces and to meet any emergency situation National Disaster Management Authority and provincial disaster management authorities were in contact.

He said yesterday, he was given a detailed briefing regarding monsoon rains and in the current monsoon season, there was no chance of flooding in any part of the country, however, low lying areas could submerge into rain water.

Instructions had been issued to the local and provincial governments to meet the challenge at the local level, he informed.

He said water level at the Tarbela and Mangla dams was low and it was expected that during the monsoon season, water situation would improve in the reservoirs, which will help to overcome the power load shedding.

He said the major cause of load shedding was that the transmission and distribution system was not upgraded. The generation capacity has been available but the system needed to be improved to supply electricity to the consumers.