Polls to be held on time despite blasts: Nizami

Lahore: Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Arif Nizami on Monday said that the interim government was committed to hold general elections on time despite terrorist attacks.
“Despite (bomb) blasts, we have the resolve to hold polls on time,” said the minister while addressing a reception hosted here in his honour by the All Pakistan Akhbar Farosh Federation (APAFF).

He said that it was a matter of pleasure that the caretakers had proved themselves neutral. The government will leave no stone unturned to resolve the issues being faced by the media industry, he added.

He said that the media industry was facing a crisis situation due to circular debt. However, he urged President of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) Syed Sarmad Ali to play his role for the implementation of 7th Wage Board Award and make payment of the arrears to the journalists.

He also asked Sarmad Ali to make APNS nominations for the board to finalize 8th Wage Award.

Referring to the caretaker government’s resolve to hold on-time elections, the minister said that the upcoming polls were very important as for the first time a democratic government had completed its stipulated five-year term.

He said that he had been offered the portfolio of Ministry of Information in past too, but he decided to accept the offer this time as he felt that for the first time a neutral set-up was going to take the responsibility of holding free, fair and transparent elections. The caretaker governments of the past were not neutral, he added.

He said that prior to taking oath as minister, he resigned from the office of Editor of Pakistan Today so that there should be no doubt about his neutrality.

“This government has not indulged in any sort of victimization,
rather it has provided a level-playing field to all the political parties. We will complete our job and go home,” said the minister.

Holding elections amid terrorist attacks is a gigantic task, which is being undertaken up bravely by the caretakers, he added.

Referring to the services of his late father, Arif Nizami said that Hameed Nizami had launched the Muslim Students Federation (MSF). The legendary journalist had launched the daily Nawa-i-Waqt with limited resources, he added.
“Despite the fact that my position is different today, let us acknowledge that even today, Nawa-i-Waqt is doing ideological journalism,” he said.

Earlier, APNS President Sarmad Ali while praising Arif Nizami, said that it was a privilege for the media industry that the ministerial slot was given to Mr Nizami.

He said that the media industry was facing numerous challenges. The federal and provincial governments owed around Rs 2.75 billion to media houses, which had brought the industry to the brink of bankruptcy.

Sarmad said that the APNS was committed to implement 7th Wage Award.
APAFF Secretary General Tikka Khan, who was moderating the proceedings of the reception, said that Arif Nizami belonged to a family, which was respected for its contribution to the media industry. Being Information Minister was not a privilege for Mr Nizami rather he was man of high stature, he added.

Other APAFF office-bearers also eulogized the services of Mr Nizami for the media industry.