LAHORE: Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi dismissed questions about a crackdown against the PTI, stating that it could be the opinion of a political worker but should not be framed as a question.
Addressing media in Lahore on Sunday, Solangi commented on President Dr. Arif Alvi’s letter to the caretaker prime minister, stating that the response would be conveyed through a letter. He emphasized that the president is the leader of all Pakistanis, not just a political party.
Solangi urged President Alvi to maintain the dignity of his position and advised against becoming a spokesperson for a political party. He acknowledged that concerns and complaints are inherent in democracy, asserting that individuals and parties have the right to submit their complaints. The caretaker government’s focus is on assisting the Election Commission in ensuring free and fair elections in the country, Solangi affirmed.
Regarding the PML-N party meeting at Punjab’s Governor House, Solangi declined to provide a response. He expressed confidence in the professionalism of the current Election Commission members, noting their adherence to the announced schedule and anticipating the schedule’s announcement after November 30.
No plan to privatize any state-owned unit until elections, IMF told
Sources revealed on Sunday that the government has informed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the privatization of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is unlikely to be concluded before the upcoming general elections.
Ongoing technical discussions between the government and the IMF delegation have already covered topics such as tax collection, and the matter of SOE privatization was also addressed in recent talks. The government assured the IMF that it is actively working on advancing the privatization process.
Specifically, the government updated the IMF on the progress of privatization plans for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), indicating that it is expected to be completed by the end of February next year. However, the government conveyed that no further privatizations are anticipated before the upcoming elections.
