ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Barrister Syed Ali Zafar on Monday expressed the hope that people all across the country would exercise their right to vote freely and without any fear.

Speaking at the inauguration of Election City 2018 of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC)here, he said that all the stakeholders including the previous Parliament and Election Commission of Pakistan played their role for a transparent and impartial election.

He said that the caretaker government was completely impartial and it had nothing to do with who would win or lose the election or which party would emerge successful.

The fate and progress of the country was in hands of the people who would have the opportunity to cast their vote thoughtfully and without any fear, he added.

The Minister said that in the past, results from Presiding Officers were sent with delay which created doubts but now the method was completely changed.

The Election Commission had prepared software through which results from the Returning Officers would be received directly by ECP and through a link would also be received by Pakistan Television, he informed.

He said that if there would be any interruption at any time in the software of Election Commission then hard copy could be acquired from the Returning Officer.

The Minister said Radio Pakistan was a prized possession of Pakistan and it was not only listened in far-flung areas of Pakistan but also across the border.

It was the only media outlet which reached 80 per cent areas of the country and 95 per cent of the total population, he said.

Ali Zafar appreciated that Radio Pakistan had hundreds of thousands of followers on social media platforms Twitter and Facebook and the number was increasing with every passing day.

He congratulated the management of Radio Pakistan for setting up Election City.

To a question, he said that according to schedule of Election Commission the election campaign would end on July 23.

He said that the candidates fully participated in the election campaign and strengthened democracy and now people had to decide who would win or lose.

To another question, he said that Pakistan was fighting the war against terrorism for a long time and success was achieved to a large extent.

The anti-State elements wanted to delay or sabotage the elections, he noted, adding, that the aim of the recent terror incidents was to harm democracy but the nation remained united and political activities continued normally in the country.

He said that the caretaker government would arrange for foolproof security for the election on July 25.

Ali Zafar told that 450,000 police personnel and more than 300,000 Army jawans were deployed, adding, never before such a large number of security personnel were put on duty.

To a question, he said that security would be tight due to safety concerns and Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) would be installed at sensitive polling stations so that the whole process could be kept transparent and clear.

He said that the credit for transparent election went to Election Commission and the last Parliament which enacted Election Act 2017.

He said that present Election Commission was far more powerful than the previous election bodies.

Responding to a question, the Minister said that after the election of 2013, 55 different complaints were received from observers as well as from media and civil society, adding, the last Parliament worked for three years and enacted a comprehensive Election Act so that previous complaints should not arise.

Ali Zafar informed that after the detailed code of conduct and SOPs of the Election Commission, the election process had been improved so that there were no complaints.

Director General Radio Pakistan Shafqat Jalil and senior officials of Radio Pakistan were present on the occasion.

Shafqat Jalil assured that according to the policy of caretaker government, timely and certified election results would be delivered to the people.

He said that during the special transmission of Election City, people would listen to the analysis and reports of experts.

If people would have any complaint in any constituency they could approach the regional offices or headquarters of the Election Commission.

Earlier, the Information Minister visited current affairs section, news room, FM 92 Dhanak, desk for translation of regional languages and web desk of Radio Pakistan.