MUHAMMAD SALEEM

LAHORE: Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Prof Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi Saturday said the only task of the interim set-up was to hold free, fair and impartial elections.

“We are striving hard to ensure free and fair elections so that no political party could complain about them,” he said this while talking to media during his visit to Child Protection Bureau (CPB) Punjab on Saturday. According to him, the interim government will be judged through its performance and we will do our best to provide relief to the common man.

The constitution and law have determined the boundaries of the interim government and we will work in this framework. He said, “Our basic responsibility is to provide facilities for fair and free elections according to the directions of the Election Commission. Second responsibility of the interim government is to discharge routine administrative work, while third responsibility is to take measures for welfare of the people which we will also do. The interim government cannot make long term policy.”

To a question about the Orange Line Train, he said projects which are running will not be stopped because this is the responsibility of the elected government, however, schools and hospitals whose structures have been completed from 80 to 90 per cent and which can be made operational, we will try that the same are completed in this short time.

Dr Askari said the interim government needs cooperation of media for the holding of free and fair elections. “We will make every possible measure for free and fair elections and top level administrative changes have been made, while more administrative changes will be made after the approval of the Election Commission. We will do every step within legal boundary. We will not give new policy because this is not our mandate. We will move policies which are already running and will try to improve them.”

To a question, he said he has personally done reporting of the elections and entry to polling station is restricted however, he will talk to the information minister to seek guidelines from the Election Commission in this regard and we will take measures in this framework. To another question, he said interim government cannot be compared with elected government, but we will try to provide relief to the common man and take measures to address their problems.

Answering another question, he said professional experienced people have been inducted in the cabinet and all decisions will be done by interim ministers and they are fully empowered in this regard, however, mutual consultation will be made in this regard.

Talking about the bureau, he said he is extremely pleased to visit this place and this is the mega project of welfare of the destitute and deprived children and such institution should make special focus on education and training of the children. He said the character building of destitute children is the national responsibility and we should all play our role in this regard. Dr Rizvi said the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau is doing a wonderful job adding that imparting training and education to destitute children is the responsibility of the state and the Punjab government has played its role in this regard.