Timely election in interest of country: Solangi
Irfan Ali
LAHORE,
Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary
Affairs Murtaza Solangi has said that it is in the interest of all political
forces and the country that elections should be held on February 8.
He expressed these views at the 7th
edition of Afkar Tazah-Think Fest 2024 session titled "Facing the Popular
Will: Election 2024" here at Al Hamra on Sunday. Former senator Afrasiab
Khattak, senior journalist Hamid Mir and a large number of youths were also
present. The programme was hosted by analyst Tamkinat Karim.
Responding to questions by the
participants, he said, "Actually the working class of Pakistan does not
have a level playing field. Political instability and economic survival of the
country are our real challenges and we need to improve the economic
situation."
He mentioned that in the preamble to
the Constitution of Pakistan, it was written that the country would be run by
its elected representatives. "This country can run only in the presence of
the Constitution. It is in the interest of all political forces and parties
that the elections should be held on February 8, and it is for the good of the
country," he said and added that the elections would be held on the
announced date.
To a question about the level playing
field, the federal Information Minister said that everyone was complaining
about it. "The Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League (N) also
have complaints about it, while Maulana Fazlur Rehman said there is no level
playing field in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Actually, the working
class of Pakistan does not have a level playing field, unless there is a
fundamental change," he added. To yesterday's court decision, he said that
it was a good precedent and every political party should give its members the
right to vote, adding that it would have been better if there were legal
experts in the panel discussion and they would have explained the legal
position.
In response to another question, the
federal minister said that political instability and economic survival of the
country are our real challenges. "The future government may face economic
challenges.
There is a need to improve the economic
situation, if the principal amount of our overall budget goes to foreign debt
servicing and other payments, it becomes difficult to run the country.
A quarter of the country's GDP comes
from agriculture, but the tax collection from this sector is very low, while
the country's population is increasing rapidly, which is putting extra pressure
on sectors like health and education, while 'we are also facing the problem of
climate change," he maintained.
He stressed the need for improving relations with neighboring
countries, without which the country cannot become economically strong.
To a query about the protesters from
Balochistan, who are present in Islamabad, Murtaza Solangi said that they had
been offered space in F-9 Park and H-9 sector of Islamabad but they insisted on
going to D-Chowk. "No group, whether political or religious, is allowed to
enter the Red Zone.
When these people tried to enter the
Red Zone from the Press Club, the police took action. A negotiation committee
met the protesters and talked with them.
At first, the arrested women and
children were released, after that another 163 people were released and finally
the remaining 34 people were also released. Ambulance facilities have also been
provided to the protesters. The governor of Balochistan and other members of
the committee went to the protesters and negotiated with them.
There is a need for a negotiation committee
having representation from all major political parties, which can find out a
better solution to the issue and we want the protesters to return
peacefully," he concluded.
