ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman rebuked hearsay and fake information on various media outlets pertaining to nominations of caretaker setup.
The minister was addressing a press conference at the PPP Secretariat alongside Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety Faisal Karim Kundi to clarify media on propagated stories pertaining to the nominations of interim setup.
Senator Rehman said there were many rumours proliferating on the reputed media outlets. “Yesterday, someone was crowned caretaker prime minister through fake news. The media should pay attention to real news rather than speculation,” she said.
She clarified that there was no nomination shared with the party and the caretaker setup has not been finalized yet. She said the nominations were decided by the PPP leadership for interim cabinet after holding consultations.
“There has been news circulating that PPP had completed the caretaker. It is visible that after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, this process has been made transparent and inclusive whereas it engages all the parties including the opposition leader in the consultative process,” she said.
The minister said that there was no agreement on caretaker setup but rather it was “fake news”. However, she said a three-member committee was constituted to hold consultations.
She urged the media to avoid perpetrating fake news. Senator Rehman underlined that her party had repeatedly demanded polls on schedule as it was important for the stability of the country.
She also mentioned that PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the entire leadership had been demanding to hold the general elections as per the constitution.
“We expect a level playing field for all the political parties in the upcoming elections. However, there will surely be consensus on the nomination of the interim prime minister but it will take time. However, we are listening to all the parties at the moment,” she said.
Responding to media queries, she said the Elections Act was pending in the Parliament’s committee and many of its clauses were under discussion whereas no unilateral decision would be allowed to usurp the constitutional mandate of the legislation.
“We will demand free and fair elections and the Constitution would be our plan A and in case of any maneuver the PPP will take precautionary measures and will brief media on it,” she added.
