October 3, 2002	Thursday	Rajab 25, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: The Commonwealth Election Observer Group on Wednesday continued consultation with the political parties and met the representatives of Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Millat Party.

Chairperson of the group, a former deputy prime minister of Malaysia, Dato Tan Sri Musa bin Hitam, in a meeting with the representatives of Tehreek-i-Insaf, observed that his mission was fully aware of the importance of the coming elections in Pakistan and hoped that their observation would help strengthen democratic process, a PTI spokesman said in a press statement.

The PTI delegation, headed by Chairman Coordination Committee, Sardar Azhar Tariq, apprised the commonwealth observers of the pre-poll rigging allegedly being carried out by the government.

He told the delegation of the Election Commission’s role, the “involvement and overt support of government functionaries, including Nazims, Naib Nazims, governors, and federal ministers to the candidates of pro-government parties.”

With the official support for the pro-government parties, the whole election process was far from being free and fair, he said.

“A well-documented proof to this effect was also provided by the PTI to substantiate the claim,” the party spokesman said.

The PTI delegation told the observers that under these circumstances a real change through these elections to meet the aspirations of the people of Pakistan would remain a far-fetched dream.