Election 2013: Government welcomes foreign observers – but no interference in polls

Diplomats told that they will be facilitated during their stay, army extends support to ECP.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan will welcome foreign observers for the upcoming parliamentary elections but would not allow them to interfere in the process in any manner, an official said following a briefing given to diplomatic missions on Tuesday.

Senior officials from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), ministry of foreign affairs, ministry of interior and ministry of information at the foreign office briefed Islamabad-based foreign diplomats about the policies and procedures the government has crafted for foreign election observers.

“The government will welcome foreign election observers after completing due formalities,” the foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Diplomats were assured that the government would take all steps within its means to facilitate the foreign election observers during their stay in Pakistan.

The election observers will have the freedom to interact with political parties on issues related to polls, an official told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity. However, he made it clear, that they would not be permitted, in any manner, to interfere in the election process.

When asked, the official said so far only the European Union (EU) expressed its willingness to send its election observer mission to Pakistan.

Army’s assurance

The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee also extended ‘all possible help’ to the ECP for holding free, fair and transparent polls in the country.

Headed by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) General Khalid Shameem Wynne, the moot was also attended by Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting discussed the support of armed forces to the ECP during the forthcoming elections.

A senior military official speaking on condition of anonymity said that military leadership agreed that it was their ‘national duty’ to assist electoral authorities in holding free, fair and peaceful parliamentary polls due in May this year.

He maintained that the army would provide all possible help to the ECP for this purpose. He said the poll body would submit its detail security plan once the election schedule is announced.

The JCSC meeting also reviewed issues related to the national security, regional geo-strategic environment, and internal security situation along with the progress on the agenda points of last session.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2013.