<\/p>\n
The caretaker government on Tuesday said Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar\u2019s remarks<\/a> that \u201cfair elections\u201d were possible even without PTI Chairman Imran Khan had been \u201cmisunderstood and misreported\u201d.<\/p>\n Imran, who was originally jailed<\/a> for \u201ccorrupt practices\u201d in the Toshakhana case \u2014 although his conviction has since been suspended<\/a> \u2014 is currently on judicial remand in the cipher case.<\/p>\n In an interview<\/a> with The Associated Press<\/em> last week, the prime minister had said that \u201cfair\u201d polls were possible without Imran and his party leaders, who were jailed as part of a state crackdown in the aftermath of violent riots across the country on May 9.<\/p>\n PM Kakar had also stated that thousands of PTI members, who were not a part of \u201cunlawful activities\u201d, \u201cwill be running the political process\u201d and \u201cparticipating in the elections\u201d.<\/p>\n The PTI had rejected the premier\u2019s remarks, saying elections without Imran would be \u201cunconstitutional and illegal\u201d.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in a statement<\/a> issued a day earlier, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had taken strong exception to PM Kakar\u2019s remarks. It called the prime minister\u2019s claims \u201canti-democratic\u201d and \u201cill-judged\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe prime minister should be aware that it is not for him or his government to decide unilaterally what constitutes a \u2018fair\u2019 election,\u201d the commission had further highlighted.<\/p>\n In a clarification issued today, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said PM Kakar was \u201cplain speaking to suggest that whereas participating in the elections was a right, but retribution for crimes was legally warranted\u201d.<\/p>\n The ministry said the interview had been \u201ctwisted by some outlets\u201d to give the impression that someone would not be allowed to take part in the general elections.<\/p>\n The government drew attention to the following text of PM\u2019s interview: \u201cWe are not pursuing anyone on a personal vendetta. But yes, we will ensure that the law is appropriate. Anyone, be it Imran Khan or any other politician who violates, in terms of their political behaviour, the laws of the country, then the restoration of the law has to be ensured. We cannot equate that with \u2026 political discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n The Information Ministry reiterated in its statement that the PTI and its leaders were free to participate in the elections like any other party. \u201cIt has been clarified that there is no impediment to contesting elections by any leader of PTI or the party as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n The statement further added that every citizen was equal before the law and the law would take its course with respect to any person currently facing legal charges.<\/p>\n \u201cThe courts are free and independent and the caretaker government has neither authority nor intention to influence the courts at any level,\u201d the statement noted, clarifying that any person aggrieved by any order or ruling of a statutory or judicial forum had a constitutionally guaranteed right to approach the next forum in judicial hierarchy for relief.<\/p>\n \u201cThe caretaker government is committed to holding free and fair elections. The caretaker government will support the constitutional and legal structure for holding elections and would ensure that all orders and directions of the Election Commission of Pakistan and independent judiciary are complied with in letter and spirit,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in an interview with TRT World<\/em>, PM Kakar termed Pakistan as a transitional democracy and assured that the electoral process would be neutral, fair, and free.<\/p>\n He stressed that there would not be any \u201corganisational or institutional involvement\u201d, either in favour of one person or a political group.<\/p>\n\u2018No institutional favour to any party in polls\u2019<\/h2>\n