Caretaker Interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi has called for bringing down the temperature of the political environment as Pakistan is gearing up for general elections.

“We have seen in today’s game that one team won and the other lost. However, there was no animosity among players and both teams showed sportsman spirit. We want all political parties to do the same to unite the country as we are nearing elections,” he told journalists after Pakistan’s match against Cambodia in the World Cup Qualifiers in Islamabad.

The political culture in Pakistan deteriorated with the passage of time, he said, adding politics also polluted the sports in the country including the Pakistan Football Federation.

“However, we are trying to forget this nightmare and expect that all the problems related to football will be resolved. I hope the federal and provincial government will play their role in promoting this sport,” Solangi added.

He congratulated the players of the Cambodian team for showing their skills on the ground, saying that Pakistan is celebrating the victory of sports and football rather than Pakistan’s victory.

“The flag of Pakistan represented both teams in green and white. Nobody lost; everybody has won. I must congratulate the team of Cambodia,” he added.