Michael Gahler to head EU observer mission

Core team of 11 observers to be deployed in the first stage.

ISLAMABAD:

As election fever grips Pakistan, the European Union has nominated Michael Gahler, member of the European Parliament, to lead its observers for the historic parliamentary vote in the country.

In response to an invitation from Pakistani authorities, the 27-nation bloc is deploying an observers mission for the general elections scheduled for May 11, said a statement issued by the EU mission in Islamabad on Tuesday. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton nominated Gahler as Chief Observer for this mission, it added.

“The forthcoming parliamentary elections in Pakistan will be a historical moment for the democratic development of the country as they mark, for the first time, the transition of power from one elected government to the next. I am confident that all stakeholders will engage in the process in a peaceful and democratic way,” Ashton was quoted as saying in the statement.

Gahler will arrive in Islamabad on 7 April.  A core team of 11 EU election analysts will be deployed in the country in the coming days.  Later, they will be joined by 52 long-term and 46 short-term observers from the 27 EU member states, as well as from Norway, Switzerland and Canada.

In total, about one hundred EU observers will be in the country for the forthcoming elections. The EU EOM might also be joined by a delegation from the European Parliament on the election day.

Shortly after the election day, the mission will issue a preliminary statement of its initial findings at a press conference in Islamabad.

The mission will stay in Pakistan to observe the final counting of votes and any complaint procedures, and to prepare a full report, including recommendations to improve the electoral process.

In 2008, the EU EOM was the largest international observation, covering 65% of the constituencies. The mission was led by Michael Gahler, member of the European Parliament.

On the election day the mission included 131 observers from 23 EU member states, in addition to Norway and Canada. They visited 445 polling stations in 115 constituencies to observe voting, counting and the compilation of results.

In April 2008, the EU EOM released a comprehensive final report with 83 recommendations. The recommendations were supported by the mainstream political parties of Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd, 2013.