Military steering clear of elections: EU official

Michael Gahler says updating voters’ list remains a challenge.

ISLAMABAD:

The European Union (EU) has said it has found no evidence that Pakistan’s powerful security establishment is planning to manipulate the next general elections in the country.

A clean chit was given by Michael Gahler, who headed the EU Observer mission in the 2008 elections, at the conclusion of his two-day visit to Pakistan here on Wednesday.

“The military is currently busy in the defence of the country. I don’t see that the current set-up has the intention or will to manipulate the election results through secret services,” Gahler told a select group of journalists here.

He also said there was no indication that the military feels threatened by the current government or the next political setup.

His remarks are significant, given the country’s chequered history where the security establishment has often been accused of making and breaking governments.

Gahler, who is also a member of the European Parliament, met President Asif Ali Zardari, the chief election commissioner, leaders from the ruling and opposition parties and civil society representatives to assess preparations for the upcoming elections.

The top EU representative  maintained that significant progress was made through constitutional amendments, the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and new initiatives of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Gahler lauded the cross-party consensus reached on the appointment of new CEC Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, that “brings the institution outside the political contest and furthers its independence.”

“The Election Commission has managed to make progress in developing reliable voters’ lists as compared to the 2008 elections,” he added.

However, he pointed out that despite progress, “Continuous updates of the voters’ list remains a serious challenge,” he said. It is believed that an average 50,000 people in Pakistan reach the age of 18 daily, making them eligible to cast vote.

Referring to the controversy over the Christian minor Rimsha Masih facing blasphemy charges,Gahler said, “Many people tell me that the inclination to radical opinion is unfortunately growing in Pakistan. The best answer to this problem is a legitimate and credible election process.”

Gahler added he found no indication during his meetings with government and other political leaders that Pakistan was heading for early elections.

Answering another question, the EU official underlined the need for respect of the rule of law. “In abstract terms, the Supreme Court or Constitutional Court overruling the government decision is not a bad thing,” he argued in response to a question on the government-judiciary row over closed money laundering cases against the president.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2012.