Memon says Musharraf respects public mandate
GILGIT, Mar 1 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A. Memon Saturday said President Pervez Musharraf respects the public mandate and power will be transferred to the new government.The minister who arrived here this morning, addressed members of the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA) and later inaugurated the PTV Re-Broadcasting Centre at Ghakuch near here.
Addressing the members of Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA), the minister said that which ever group or party achieves majority in the national assembly will be facilitated once the notification of the MNAs-elect is issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
He said more than one thousand electoral experts, observers and journalists visited Pakistan to monitor the election process and the entire world acknowledged the impartiality of the polls.
The minister said that President Musharraf has been elected through a democratic process and he would hold the post for five years.
Memon said the president is a symbol of federation and any bid to weaken him would tantamount to destabilising the federation.
He said government formation is an obligation of the political parties and as any political party could not win a clear majority, they are holding talks to form a government.
Hailing the consultation process between political parties to form the government, Memon said the political leadership is taking the political process ahead in a responsible manner.
He said the caretaker government was focussing on the development of Northern Areas (NAs) and the third package for the development of the NAs was being worked out.
President Musharraf has ordered preparation of another package for the people of NAs which would ensure provision of clean drinking water, education, health and other basic facilities to the people of the areas, he added.
On the occasion, Speaker National Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA) Muhammad Miskeen expressed gratitude to President Musharraf on behalf of the people of NAs for two development packages, saying that the NALA fully backed the steps being taken by the President.
He congratulated the president and the caretaker government for holding free, fair and transparent election. Terming the holding of free and fair polls a difficult task, he said, the obligation was fulfilled in a befitting manner.
Miskeen said President Musharraf had launched massive and unprecedented development projects for the uplift and prosperity of the people of Northern Areas. He hoped that this development course would continue in the future as well.
Later, the Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A. Memon inaugurating the PTV re-broadcasting centre said setting up of the centre was a testimony to the fact that the government wanted people of far flung areas to remain informed of the affairs of the country.
The centre will cover 25 kilometres and 80,000 people will be able to watch the TV broadcasts.
Nisar Memon said the re-broadcasting centre has been set up under the package announced by President Pervez Musharraf for development of the Northern Areas.
He said the President had announced special packages for Northern Areas in 2004 and 2007 to bring them at par with the rest of the country.
The information minister assured that the local people would be provided employment in the project which was a gift from President Musharraf for the area.
Memon said as a successful democratic country, Pakistan is setting new traditions. The terrorists tried to destabilise and derail the system but were failed in their effort.
He said the terrorists killed Benazir Bhutto who was one of the great world leaders of the present times. It was followed by a propaganda campaign that the elections would not be held. He said elections were rescheduled but the caretaker government fulfilled its constitutional obligation and held free, fair and transparent polls on time under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf.
He said the countrys nuclear assets are in safe hands and there is a complete command and control system for their administration.
He said the armed forces are in high spirits and fully prepared to defend the country.
Memon said President Pervez Musharraf is the elected president of Pakistan and has fulfilled his promise by relinquishing the command of the army. With this, he said, the president has set a tradition unprecedented so far.
He said ways are looked into for internal autonomy of the Northern Areas adding that the royalty of Bhasha and Diamer Dams will be spent for the uplift of the people and the areas.
He said there are over 50 television channels operating freely and without any official intervention. He said there are a large number of newspapers but none of them is owned by the government.
Nisar Memon said investors from the private sector should launch projects in the field of media in the Northern Areas.
He said nine FM Radio Stations will be set up while two Radio Transmitters were being installed by Radio Pakistan at Chilas and Astore.
He said for the benefit of the farmers of the Northern Areas the President had written off loans worth rupees one billion and for the empowerment of the people had upgraded Northern Areas Council and made it Northern Areas Legislative Assembly.
Nisar A. Memon announced a grant of Rs.100,000 for the Gilgit Press Club and Rs. 50,000 for Gizer Press Club.
On his arrival at the re-broadcasting centre, the minister was given a briefing on the project.
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