Sethi attends old Ravians faunction at the Oval Ground

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister, Najam Sethi has said that caretaker government will ensure free, fair and impartial elections at any cost and no one will be allowed to create hurdles in this regard as the top priority of the caretaker government is only and only to hold transparent and fair elections. He said people are still facing uncertainty and ask whether elections will be held or not and it is his promise to them that general elections will be held on time.

He said that he has no political designs and does not want to stay in power for even one more day than is required. He said that clean, non-political and impartial ministers have been inducted in the Punjab cabinet.

Chief Minister Najam Sethi expressed these views while addressing a function of Old Ravians Union at the Oval Ground of Government College University Lahore. President Old Ravians Union Kamran Lashari, Honorary Secretary Dr. Khalid Manzoor Butt, Vice President Mansoor Feroze Khan, Vice President for Women Kiran Khurshid, Vice Chancellor Government College University Dr. Khaliq uz Zaman and a large number of Old Ravians were present on the occasion.

Chief Minister Najam Sethi said that changes are being made in bureaucracy and police to ensure transparent conduct of elections and officers from SHO up to provincial secretary level would be reshuffled. He said that DPOs, RPOs, Commissioners and DCOs will also be transferred and the process of changes in administration and police will be completed within next few days. He said that Punjab government has taken no decision so far to celebrate Basant however consultations are being made in this regard. He said that provincial government will make no irresponsible or non-serious decision and the public interest will be held uppermost. He said that he believes that caretaker government can discharge its responsibilities with six ministers, therefore, more than one additional departments have been allocated to every minister so that governmental affairs could be run smoothly. He said that when he took over as caretaker chief minister, about two hundred persons gave their bio-data to him for appointment as ministers. He said that he is of the view that Safarish and nepotism is an anathema to merit but it is also a fact that these social evils have taken roots in the society and people consider Safarish as their right and are irritated if it is not accepted.

He said that he had made it clear on the very first day of his appointment, while talking to journalists, that as long as he is caretaker chief minister he has no friend or relative. He said that Punjab government has no shortage of funds and all out measures will be adopted within available resources to bring improvement in the life of poor and deserving people and some steps have already been taken which will soon yield positive results. He said that caretaker Punjab government is performing its duties efficiently however it is not supposed to formulate policies but only to conduct elections. He said that his doors are open to everyone and he tries to respond to every telephone call and SMS. He said that he has a deep affiliation with Government College Lahore as he was only fifteen when he got admission in the college. He said indeed Government College Lahore totally changed his life as it is not merely a college but a complete institution. He said that memories of the able teachers of the college and its campus are still fresh in his mind.

The Chief Minister said that what he learnt at Government College Lahore during his student life has helped him a lot in his practical life. He said that he is a forthright and outspoken person and he thinks that something should be done in the tenure of caretaker setup for the welfare of the people especially oppressed segments of the society. He said that he is of the view that more projects like metro bus should be launched.

Honorary Secretary Old Ravians Union Khalid Manzoor Butt said that Najam Sethi is the 9th Ravian to have become the chief minister of the province. He said that it is due to the impartial and neutral personality of Najam Sethi that political parties have unanimously expressed confidence in him. Vice-Chancellor of Government College University Lahore, Dr. Khaliq uz Zaman said that appointment of Najam Sethi as caretaker chief minister is an honour for the Ravians.

President Old Ravians Union Kamran Lashari said that Najam Sethi is the same as he was before becoming the chief minister which proves that high offices are meaningless for a great personality like Najam Sethi. The Chief Minister presented shields to the office-bearers of Old Ravians Union while Kamran Lashari a presented a shield to Chief Minister Najam Sethi.