The caretaker government released an official statement on Tuesday, emphasizing that under the constitution and existing electoral laws, all political parties in Pakistan had an equal right to participate in general elections.
The government categorically stated that recent remarks made by the caretaker prime minister during an interview with the Associated Press had been “misunderstood and misreported.”
In a bid to clarify the prime minister’s stance, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting provided the original text from the Associated Press interview.
According to the ministry, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was merely stating that participating in elections is a right, but retribution for criminal activities is legally mandated.
The ministry expressed dismay that the interview had been “twisted by some outlets” to create the false impression that certain individuals would be prohibited from participating in the general elections.
Prime Minister Kakar’s interview included the following statement: “We are not pursuing anyone on a personal vendetta. But yes, we will ensure that the law is appropriate. Anyone, be it Imran Khan or any other politician who violates, in terms of their political behavior, the laws of the country, then the restoration of the law has to be ensured. We cannot equate that with … political discrimination.”
Kakar also mentioned that fair elections could proceed without the participation of Imran Khan or the hundreds of members of his party who are currently detained due to their involvement in unlawful activities, including vandalism and arson.
This reference was made in the context of the violence that erupted in the country following Imran Khan’s initial arrest in May.
The caretaker prime minister further noted that those members of Khan’s party who did not engage in unlawful activities would be actively involved in the political process and would participate in the elections.
The Information Ministry reiterated in its statement that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leaders are free to participate in the elections on an equal footing with any other political party. The government clarified that there are no barriers preventing any PTI leader or the party as a whole from contesting the elections.
The statement emphasized that every citizen is equal before the law, and legal proceedings will proceed against any individual currently facing legal charges. The courts in Pakistan are described as free and independent, with the caretaker government having neither the authority nor the intention to influence them at any level.
It was further clarified that any individual dissatisfied with an order or ruling from a statutory or judicial forum has a constitutionally guaranteed right to appeal to the next level in the judicial hierarchy for redress.
The caretaker government concluded its statement by reiterating its commitment to holding free and fair elections. It pledged support for the constitutional and legal framework governing elections and affirmed its commitment to fully complying with all directives issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan and the independent judiciary, both in letter and in spirit.
