September 26, 2002	Thursday	Rajab 18, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: President Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday the government was committed to holding of free, fair and transparent elections on Oct 10, and in this behalf, it would take all necessary steps.

Addressing the cabinet meeting, President Musharraf said that the government would also extend all help and assistance to the Election Commission for the holding of free and fair elections.

In this regard, the president mentioned the arrival of foreign observers, saying the government would welcome any number of foreign observers who would like to visit the country to monitor the general election.

The foreign observers, he said, would be extended all possible facilities in the accomplishment of their assignment.

Musharraf directed the provincial governments to take all necessary steps to make the stay and movement of the foreign observers safe and comfortable.

The foreign observers would be free to go to any provincial capital from where they would be taken to any polling station of their choice, escorted by army, so that they do not feel any sense of insecurity.

The government, he said, was absolutely clear in its commitment that it would never allow anyone to tamper with the election process, and all those wishing to witness and monitor the election process would be free to do so, “so that the world could witness the fairness of these elections”.—APP