Transparency: Pervaiz Rashid urges ECP to facilitate election observers

Information minister says issue of security clearance should be simplified

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid on Sunday urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to facilitate election observers in line with its commitment to electoral transparency.

In a statement, Rashid said independent observation of the elections by organisations like The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) contribute to the transparency of the elections.

Noting the role of observers, the minister said they systematically gather objective information about the quality of election which assists in reforms process.

He said the issue of security clearance for such observers should be streamlined and simplified so that election observers including Pakistani citizen volunteers could play their role in observing elections and perform their duties.

The information minister requested the election  commission to reconsider its decision as the democratic government is committed to complete transparency.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2015.