Associated Press of Pakistan,
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A.Memon has said that Pakistan’s Nuclear Assets are safe and no other country has the right to talk of playing any role in this regard. Speaking at a seminar organised by Rae Aama Forum Pakistan at a local hotel on Wednesday night, he said, “We know how to protect our nuclear assets and cannot allow any other country to talk of playing any role in this regard. If anybody talk of it he cannot be friend of Pakistan as in fact it is interference in our internal affairs, which cannot be allowed under any circumstances.”
He said Pakistan’s nuclear assets are very important for the security of the country and these remained safe in the past and would remain so in future as well.
Stating that three leaders played important role in developing nuclear programme and ensuring its safety, he referred to role of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and President Pervez Musharraf in this regard.
About next elections he said, caretaker government would hold elections in free, fair and transparent manner as it has taken oath under the constitution for it adding that nobody can violate this oath and if anybody do so he has no right to remain in government.
He said basic task of the caretaker government is to ensure holding of elections in free and fair manner and it is doing it sincerely with full support being extended to Election Commission.
Regarding demand by some opposition leaders for suspending local governments, he said, it is not possible as these are constitutional institutions.
“Even in other countries where democracy is deep rooted it is not done as there is no logic in it.”
However, he said, if there is any complaint against any nazim it should be brought before the election commission so that action could be taken against him. The officials of election commission would also be visiting all the four provinces shortly to monitor the situation and if there are any complaints, the commission would take strict action as per law.
He said caretaker governments have been set up by the president as per constitution and are working devotedly to play their role in holding elections in a transparent manner.
Referring to imposition of emergency, he said ‘There were some problems but now these are over and there is civilian president, while emergency has been revoked, PCO repealed and constitution restored with the country fully ready for free, fair and transparent elections.
Memon said President Pervez Musharraf has been serving Pakistan devotedly and has saved it from various dangers adding in 2002 when India had amassed its one million forces on our borders, it did not dare go for misadventure because defence of Pakistan under the leadership of President Musharraf had been rendered impregnable.
About freedom of media, he said , “Media is fully free in the country but like all other fields there is code of conduct for media also which it has to follow.”
He said only those TV channels are taken off the air which violated rules and after they assured to follow rules were restored and presently all channels are operating except for one.
He said process for bringing this channel on the air is in progress. However, it will have to follow the rules as law is equal for all and cannot be changed for any one.
About terrorism, he said, this phenomenon has two types. One is that in which terrorists indulge in acts like suicide bombings, attacks innocent citizen and important personalities while the other is international propaganda.
He said this second kind of terrorism is equally heinous and like the first one is geared to destabilise the country with an aim to put pressure on the government of Pakistan to achieve their evil designs.
He said,”we have proofs of this kind of terrorism and caretaker government is committed to tackle it”.
Reiterating government’s commitment to hold elections in free, fair and transparent manner, he said, “Caretaker government would not let anybody to use country’s resources for electioneering of any political party. If anybody tried to do it government would take strict action, no matter to which party he/she belongs or what position he/she held in the past. We are impartial and would maintain our neutrality at every cost.”
