Pakistan’s Information Minister has responded to the protests by saying elections will go ahead as planned in the middle of March. Qa-mar Za-man Kaira said that it would be consitutionally impossible to meet all of Tahir-ul Qadri’s demands, including that the government stand down.
Qamar Zaman Kaira, Pakistani Information Minister, said,"The assembly will complete its term, which is the 16th of march. So on that day, the assembly will be dissolved automatically. And we’ve given in writing to the supreme court of Pakistan yesterday, that according to the constitution, the election will be held in time. So the 16th of march, and onward if you go for two months, that will be the 15th or the 16th of May."
Qadri, who backed a military coup in 1999, is calling for the immediate resignation of the government and the installation of a caretaker administration to oversee electoral reforms. But his sudden -- and apparently well-financed -- emergence after years in Canada has been criticised as a ploy by the establishment, particularly the armed forces, to delay the elections and sow political chaos. Qadri denies wanting to delay the poll, but is calling for a new, independent election commission and screening to ban corrupt candidates.
中国公共新闻摘编:GAN JADE |