LAHORE, April 28: A Commonwealth team is on a “fact- finding” mission in the country to know the reaction of the local politicians to the steps so far taken or likely to be taken by the army government before restoring democracy.
On the basis of the team’s report a Commonwealth committee will form its reaction, in its meeting scheduled for next month, to the developments taking place in Pakistan with regard to restoration of democracy.
On Sunday, Commonwealth political affairs division director Jon Sheppard and senior programme officer Mrs K. Falkner met ARD president Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan and PML(N) vice-president Zafar Ali Shah at the residence of PPP leader Munir Ahmad Khan. They were informed of the stance of the opposition parties on referendum, proposed constitutional amendments, National Security Council and feared rigging in the October polls.
What the two-member “fact-finding” mission of the Commonwealth wanted to know was how the local politicians would react to these acts of the government. Whether or not they were ready to take part in the elections despite their fears about rigging and irregularities in the polls.
Mr Sheppard told Dawn after the meeting that Commonwealth teams would reach Pakistan soon after announcement of the election schedule to monitor any pre-poll rigging and other government steps to manoeuvre the election results.
Asked what would be the reaction of the Commonwealth if the polls were held on non-party basis, he said it would be a matter of great concern but it would be taken up when the time comes.
Asked if they thought that Gen Musharraf was following the roadmap given by him at various international fora for restoring democracy, he said so far the Commonwealth members seemed convinced that the general was honouring his promise.
