KARACHI: Pakistan’s Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, asserted on Saturday that the country’s affairs would be managed by its elected representatives in accordance with the Constitution.
During a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club, Solangi highlighted the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure free, fair, transparent, and impartial elections as mandated by Article 218(3) of the Constitution. Principal Information Officer Muhammad Asim Khichi was also present at the event.
Solangi reaffirmed the caretaker government’s commitment to facilitating free and fair elections and mentioned that the delimitation of constituencies would be completed by November 30. Subsequently, the final election date would be announced.
Acknowledging the historical significance of the Karachi Press Club, he referred to it as his “old home” and commended its pivotal role in the evolution of democracy in the country. Solangi praised the club’s contribution to freedom of expression, knowledge dissemination, and the people’s right to governance.
The minister also recognized that the Karachi Press Club served as a platform for the working class and marginalized individuals to voice their grievances and hardships.
Solangi expressed his awareness of the challenges faced by journalists, particularly job-related issues, and emphasized that the current caretaker government, operating under Article 224 of the Constitution, would ensure justice for journalists. Collaborative efforts with the Principal Information Officer would be undertaken to address journalists’ concerns.
Responding to a question, the caretaker Federal Minister for Information revealed that the ECP had announced the elections to be held in the last week of January. He assured that the caretaker government would extend full support to the Election Commission, fulfilling all its requirements.
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Petroleum Prices in Pakistan
Regarding petroleum product prices, he explained that they were influenced by global market prices and expressed optimism that prices would decrease in the near future.
In response to inquiries about unpaid salaries to media workers and journalists, the federal minister stated that government advertisements would not be allocated to media houses failing to pay their employees.
Solangi also highlighted a successful recovery of approximately Rs 8 billion from electricity theft, emphasizing the need to rectify this system as it placed a burden on other consumers.
