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| August 10, 2002 | Saturday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 30,1423 |
Mission to observe polls: Cushnahan
ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: Chief of the 164-member European Union election observers mission, John Cushnahan, said on Thursday that his mission was to observe, evaluate and report the electoral process.
Speaking to newsmen with Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed after meeting him, the EU chief observer said: “We have taken note of the presidential referendum aspect and whatever happened but right now we are engaged in looking forward to the road-map that the Musharraf government has drawn up for returning to democracy.”
He had been asked whether he knew that the government had expressed determination that it would ensure the same transparency and fairness in October polls as was done in the referendum.
Mr Cushnahan said: “My mission is only to address this election with reference to all the aspects - whether fair chances to all participating parties including access to the media were ensured.”
Asked if his mission would pressure the government to make the electoral process fair or recommend sanctions in case of rigged polls, he said: “It is too early to draw conclusions as we are in the early period of our mission and we have to assess a lot more after meeting a number of political party leaders, non-governmental organizations and others attached to the process.”
He said the 10 core experts of his team had experience of observing some 1,000 elections, including those in some sensitive countries of Africa and Asia.
He said the mission had met functionaries in the ministries of foreign affairs and interior and held a brief meeting with the chief election commissioner.
He said his delegation would meet leadership of all sides and it had met leaders of four parties.
He said some political leaders that he had met had expressed their apprehensions about the impartiality of the government.
He said the mission would make independent observation whether the state resources were misused to influence the elections.
APP ADDS: European Union election observers also met Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Muslim League leaders, including Chief Organizer Raja Zafarul Haq.
Zafarul Haq said after meeting the delegation led by John Cushnahan that his party had expressed appreciation for the team’s role to monitor the election process. “We had initial discussion with the members of the EU team and we are satisfied with their response,” he said.
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