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| India-Pakistan |
| New Sindh govt expected in first week of March: Zamin |
| 2008-02-21 |
| The new government is likely to be formed in the first week of March, learnt Daily Times Tuesday in an exclusive interview with caretaker Home Minister Brigadier (retd) Akhtar Zamin. Zamin said that the election commission will issue its notice within three to four days. Later, the governor of Sindh on the behest of the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, will give a proposal to form the government in Sindh to those parties who have won the majority. This will be done within the first week of March, speculated Zamin. “We will resign one day before the new government takes oath,” said Zamin, adding that he was glad with how the election had turned out. The retired brigadier said that there was a lot of work he can do even after handing over responsibility of his post to the newly elected government. “To hold transparent, creatable and peaceful elections was basically the aim of the caretaker government, and we have succeeded. I would like to thank all the party leaders and their workers for their peaceful participation in the elections. I would also like to extend a special thanks to the law enforcement agencies and all security personals for playing their part.” Zamin said he hoped his last few days in the office were also peaceful. The caretaker government was set up on November 3, 2007. During its time in power three major incidents occurred in Karachi including the twin blasts on Benazir Bhutto’s convoy on October 18, the September 27 riots as a reaction Bhutto’s assassination and the blast at Quaidabad at the beginning of Muharram. However, any major terrorist attack during Muharram and the elections was averted while three outlaw groups were arrested whose members belonged to banned militant outfits including Jandullah, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Harkatul Mujahideen, Tehreek-e-Islami and Lashkar-e-Mohammadi. Arms, explosives, suicide jackets and poison was also recovered in a huge quantity. Law enforcers will remain on high alert: Police and rangers will remain on high alert because of security concerns. Around 27 army battalions, that were called out incase of an emergency during the elections, will also remain on stand-by till Wednesday evening. It will then be decided what to do with them, said Zamin. Zamin said that prizes will be distributed to those law enforcers who played a special role in maintaining law and order. He also appealed to the upcoming government that opportunities should be provided to the police on the basis of merit and not to make them a part of politics. Zamin added that those political parties who have lost should not act like spoiled sports and let the victors celebrate in peace. He appealed to all political parties to remove their banners, flags, posters and holdings which they put up during their campaigns. Furthermore, cases against political workers who were arrested on Election Day will not be taken back. |
| Posted by:Fred |