ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday discussed with the Chief Election Commissioner proposal for making voting compulsory so that the people may play a greater role in electing their future leadership.
Talking to Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Hamid Ali Mirza here at the Prime Minister House, Gilani said the Election Commission has an important role in nation building by holding free, fair and transparent elections.
He expressed confidence that the Election Commission was fully aware of its duties and obligations and assured full support of the government in this regard.
Referring to his meeting with the Citizen Group on Electoral Process (CGEP); a subsidiary of Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), the Prime Minister said their proposal for making the voting compulsory carries much weight as people need to exercise their right to elect their representatives.
The Chief Election Commissioner briefed the Prime Minister about the Commission and its working. He also informed about various initiatives being taken in making the election process more transparent. Secretary Election Commission was present during the meeting.
LAHORE: Highlighting the sorry state of affairs in Pakistan Railways, Federal Minister Bashir Bilour on Monday said that the entity was suffering an hourly loss of Rs3 million, mounting the annual deficit to Rs15 million a year.
Speaking to media at the Railway Headquarter Office in Lahore, Bilour said it has also become difficult to keep the system running despite the aid being given by the federal government to the Railways department.
The federal minister quoted Chairman Railways Sami Khilji as saying that the Indian government had injected Rs282 billion to uplift its Railway department while their Pakistan counterpart received only Rs14 billion.
He ruled out purchase of new assets for the entity in view of the limited financial help.
Two years ago, 100 railways engineers were dysfunctional, he said, adding the figure had mounted to 120.
The situation was almost similar with other assets also, he commented.
Meanwhile, Bilour said that issues about 18th Amendment and renaming of NWFP would be resolved soon.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q has rejected Pakhtunkhwa, Afghania or Pakhtunistan as a new name for NWFP province and President PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat has formed a committee under Amir Muqam for holding consultations on the issue.
A consultative meeting of PML-Q was held here to deliberate over the issue of renaming of NWFP.
Briefing media persons after the meeting, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said the constitutional package must not be delayed on the issue of NWFP’s name. “The constitutional package has been hijacked by linking it with the renaming of NWFP,” he added.
General Secretary PML-Q Mushahid Hussain Sayed, on the occasion, termed it necessary to hold consultations with all the provinces on the issue of NWFP’s name.
