Kayani commitment to hold fair elections in Pakistan
Islamabad: Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that the country will go to polls as scheduled as, amid mounting attacks by the Taliban to derail the historic general elections.
“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.
The army, he said, is committed to “wholeheartedly assist and support in the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections; to the best of our capabilities and remaining within the confines of the Constitution”. This support is only aimed at “strengthening democracy and rule of law”, he said.
The upcoming polls are due to mark the first democratic transition of power after the PPP-led civilian government has served a full five-year term in a country that has been ruled by generals for half its life.
Police officials confirmed the attack had been carried out by a suicide bomber. They said they had found the head and body parts of the attacker. Security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation after the attack.
At Dera Murad Jamali in Balochistan province, a car bomb went off near the motorcade of independent candidate Allahdino Umrani though there were no casualties.
No group claimed responsibility for both attacks, the latest in a series of bombings targeting politicians and campaign meetings ahead of Pakistan’s landmark May 11 general election, which will mark the first democratic transition of power in the country’s history.
