October 16, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 9, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: President Pervez Musharraf has lashed out at European Union observers’ flaying of his controversial changes to the constitution, APP reported on Tuesday.

“Mr Cushnahan should have confined his remarks to the holding of the national elections,” Musharraf was quoted as saying at the end of a three-day trip to Istanbul.

“He had no business to interfere in the international affairs of Pakistan.”

The EU observers team chief, John Cushnahan, released a scathing report on Saturday of last week’s general elections, calling them “deeply flawed” and attacking constitutional changes announced by President Musharraf in August.

The report said the changes “could lead to the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual who can dismiss elected governments” and “institutionalize the role of the military” in government.

It said the changes altered the 1973 Constitution from a parliamentary to a presidential one.

The EU report — while not singling out election day itself as particularly problematic — said “actions taken by authorities led to serious flaws in the process.”

President Musharraf reiterated his statement that the elections were “free, fair and transparent.”

Pakistan has rejected the EU allegations as untrue, calling them “unfortunate.”

PRESIDENT RETURNS: President Musharraf returned home on Tuesday after attending the seventh summit of the heads of state of Economic Cooperation Organization held in Istanbul. Vice Chief of the Army Staff General Muhammad Yusaf and others received him at the PAF base.—Agencies