LGs to be suspended in a couple of days

* Memon says govt won’t change PEMRA Ordinance
* Law and order has improved
* Free and fair polls to be ensured

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to suspend the local governments (LGs) within a couple of days for the January 8 elections, sources told Daily Times on Thursday.

The opposition has been demanding the suspension of the local bodies with the argument that nazims were in a position to influence the elections in their respective districts by using police and other government resources.

Earlier, Caretaker Federal Information Minister Nisar A Memon said that a decision in this regard would be taken within two days. He told reporters after a media workshop that the situation in the country had improved since November 3.

Replying to a question, Memon said the government had no other choice but to impose the emergency rule when every institution in the country had crossed its limits and misused its powers, Online reported.

No changes in PEMRA Ord: The minister said no change would be made in the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance.

Information Minister Memon said no curbs were imposed on the media after the emergency rule was imposed in the country on November 3.

He said if a private television channel followed the PEMRA media code then its transmission could be restored.

Law and order: Replying to another query, he said that law and order in the country had improved considerably, adding that Pakistan faced the challenge of international terrorism.

The government had released more than five thousand lawyers, who were arrested after the proclamation of emergency, so far and only five lawyers were still detained, he said, adding that no journalist was in detention.

Free and fair polls: He said the caretaker government would provide conducive environment for the January 8 general elections according to the desires of the Election Commission (EC).

He urged political parties to help the government ensure free, fair and transparent elections. The government gave equal opportunities to all political parties and the Election Commission was impartial, the information minister said, adding that if any political party had objections in this regard then it should bring them forward. He said the emergency rule would be lifted on December 15 and the constitution as well as the fundamental rights would be restored. staff report/online