Addressing the caretaker cabinet led by Prime Minister Mian Mohammad Soomro here at his Camp Office, a day after he took oath as President for the second term, Musharraf said he expected them to demonstrate neutrality in their day-to-day affairs.

He asked the caretaker government to ensure sustainability of economic upsurge, maintenance of law and order and holding of free and transparent election.

“Your neutrality will be of critical value and you must make every effort to demonstrate it through your actions,” the President said.

He said the caretaker administration must maintain law and order, particularly in the provinces, by ensuring that nothing disrupts the electoral process.

President Pervez Musharraf stressed that the gains of the past eight years need to be consolidated through continuity of policies and actions saying that Pakistan must keep moving on the development track.

The President stressed that peace and security were vital in an environment where Pakistan was combating an upsurge in terrorism and said all situations of conflict must be avoided.

President Pervez Musharraf said he was a firm believer in freedom of media and said it was free to criticize the policies and actions of the government, including himself. However, he urged the media to avoid misreporting, sensationalism and defamation that were not acceptable in any free and civilized society.

He advised the government to allow full access to international observers, and the national and foreign media, by facilitating them during the electoral process; however, no interference from any quarter should be accepted in holding the impartial elections.

The President advised the caretaker administration to ensure that all development projects, especially relating to water resource development, watercourses, power generation and infrastructure development, smoothly.

The President wished the caretaker cabinet success and said he will continue to watch their progress with interest.- [via TheNews]

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