10Mln Eligible Pakistanis to get Registered as Voters: Rashid
By Khawaja Ahsan Paul 'Pakistan Times' Punjab Bureau Chief

LAHORE: Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has called upon the non registered, more than 10 million, eligible people to get themselves registered as voters to exercise their right of franchise in the next general elections.

He was addressing at a seminar on `Media's responsibilities in the prevailing situation of the country' organized by Punjab Union of Journalist (PUJ) at Lahore Press Club here on Monday.

Ameer Jamaat Islami Lahore MNA Hafiz Salman Butt, Senior Vice President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Syed Enwar Kidwai, Columnist Saeed Assi, President PUJ S.Amjad and Secretary PUJ Rub Nawaz Bajwa also spoke on the occasion.

Sheikh Rashid said that by avoiding their registration as voters such a huge number of citizens would not be able to cast their vote and play their role due role in coming elections.

He said that the political parties should play their role in this regard.

"Voters registration lists are being displayed within a few days and it is not an ordinary thing that more than 10 million people have not even taken pain of going to registration offices to get them registered as voters", he added.

He urged the media to play its role in creating awareness among public in this regard.

Of PPP

Sheikh Rashid said that President General Pervez Musharraf will be reelected by the sitting assemblies and PPP will play positive role in the presidential election.

He sated that talks and consultations with political parties is a part of political process and it is continuing in the country.

Sheikh Rashid said, "There is difference between deal and dialogue. Holding talks with political parties is part of democratic process and government believes in it." However, he said, " The word 'deal' is unparliamentary word and I don't use it."

Regarding reports that a fresh reference is going to be filed against Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhery, he said, "It is constitutional issue and I am not law expert. However, if law and constitution allow it government has every right to go for it."

To a question regarding re-election of the President Pervez Musharraf, he said,"Opposition's support or votes are not required for it as government party has sufficient strength in the parliament."

However, he said government wants to take opposition along so that there is consensus on different issues pertaining to holding of next general elections so that their is no doubt about the transparency and fairness of the next genera elections.

He said those who have gone abroad and cannot come to country for next three years want to create trouble so that democratic process do not move forward while others want that things keep on moving in the right direction and there is stability in democratic process.

To a question about differences in PML-Q, he said reports in this regard are totally baseless and concocted.●