Pak polls will be held as scheduled: Army chief
2 May 2013 12:49 AM GMT
Pakistan will go to polls as scheduled as it is a golden opportunity to usher in an era of true democratic values in the country, army chief gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said amid mounting attacks by the Taliban to derail the historic general elections.
Addressing an event to mark the ‘Youm-e-Shahada’ (day of martyrs)on Tuesday, Kayani reiterated the army’s commitment to holding of free and fair elections. He criticised those who contend that the campaign against terrorism is not Pakistan’s war and called for greater political consensus and a ‘clear policy’ to tackle extremism and terrorism. ‘Allah willing, general elections would be held in the country on May 11. There should be no doubt about this. This indeed is a golden opportunity which can usher in an era of true democratic values in the country,’ Kayani said in his speech in Urdu to a gathering that included top military commanders.
Over the past few days, Pakistani Talibans carried out a string of bomb attacks in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces that targeted Awami National Party, PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement.The attacks, which killed some 40 people. ‘If people rise above ‘ethnic and sectarian biases’ to vote only on the basis of honesty and competence, there will be no reason to fear,’ he said.
Addressing an event to mark the ‘Youm-e-Shahada’ (day of martyrs)on Tuesday, Kayani reiterated the army’s commitment to holding of free and fair elections. He criticised those who contend that the campaign against terrorism is not Pakistan’s war and called for greater political consensus and a ‘clear policy’ to tackle extremism and terrorism. ‘Allah willing, general elections would be held in the country on May 11. There should be no doubt about this. This indeed is a golden opportunity which can usher in an era of true democratic values in the country,’ Kayani said in his speech in Urdu to a gathering that included top military commanders.
Over the past few days, Pakistani Talibans carried out a string of bomb attacks in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces that targeted Awami National Party, PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement.The attacks, which killed some 40 people. ‘If people rise above ‘ethnic and sectarian biases’ to vote only on the basis of honesty and competence, there will be no reason to fear,’ he said.
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