ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has said consistency of policies is only possible under a one-party rule, and not in a liberal democracy and parliamentary system.

“The consistency you are referring to is possible in one-party government which rules for two, three or four decades and forwards its policies with consistency — whether they are right or wrong. If you come in liberal democracy, where a parliamentary system exists, policies are made through assessments in view of economic and political challenges and on that basis they [rulers] are judged by the people who again give them [rulers] mandate or not,” the PM told a questioner at a news conference here on Friday.

“I understand that even expectation of such uniform policies is unrealistic,” he said, adding that governments should exhibit their ability, in which their capacity and intentions were exposed, and make decisions and take responsibility of their decisions. On that basis, people should decide whether or not give them [governments] mandate.

Responding to a question about the next general elections, Mr Kakar said announcing the poll date was beyond the mandate of the interim government.

“If I announce elections, I would be engaging in an unlawful act, and as a journalist, you should be aware that if you steer us towards illegal actions and pose questions that might tempt us to break the law, then what should my response be,” he asked another questioner.