Early elections can be a possibility: PM Ashraf
01 September, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday reiterated commitment of the government to hold fair, free, transparent and impartial election to further strengthen the democratic process in the country. In an interview with the Pakistan Television, the prime minister said, "Democracy has the power and it is the basic right of the people to vote according to their conscious in a fair, free and impartial atmosphere." He said the government would ensure that the masses were given the right to elect their representatives through impartial elections that would improve the situation in the country. He said there were people's reservations even about the election held in 2008 during the tenure of former president Pervez Musharraf, but the people accepted that election. Referring to some previous elections held in the country, he said there were many reservations about those elections but said the democratically elected government of the PPP would ensure fair, free and impartial elections. He said some dictators even held referendums but people did not accept them as alternative to general elections. To a question, he said, "Through fair and impartial election the people have the right to elect their future rulers and the government would ensure conducive atmosphere for the forthcoming elections." Regarding formation of caretaker set-up, the prime minister clarified that the leader of the House and the leader of opposition should reach consensus on the caretaker prime minister. He said he wanted to reach consensus with the leader of opposition for caretaker set-up. Raja said, "As we are heading towards election, it is necessary that parliament should complete its constitutional term." He said if two or three assemblies would have completed their constitutional terms, democratic system would had been strengthened. "If someone wants election two months earlier, it can be discussed," he said, adding that if parliament would complete its tenure, it would send a good message to the international community about Pakistan. To the question of his appearance in the SC on September 18 in the NRO implementation case, the prime minister said he wanted to resolve the issue. End.
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