ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: The European Union Election Observation Mission, in its report based on the electoral process, has recommended greater independence for the Election Commission.

The mission, led by John Cushnahan, prepared a 100-page report regarding the elections after his stay here from Aug 4 to Oct 18.

One the basis of its findings, the mission prepared recommendations to improve the election framework.

Although these are primarily addressed to the Election Commission and the government, some proposals are suggested for consideration by the European Union.

The mission has recommended that the method of selecting and appointing the chief election commissioner and the Election Commission members should be amended to guarantee an independent election administration.

It has suggested that the commission should be responsible for the compilation of the voters register and the delimitation of constituencies.

It said the training of the Election Commission staff, organized by the United Nations Development Programme was seriously hampered by the late production of the training manual and the low participation rate because of poor information given to the trainees at the local level. The presiding officers manual should be produced in the appropriate language of the province, it said.

According to the report, the process for accepting candidates’ nomination papers and consolidating the results was changed but no training of the returning officers and the election tribunal staff was conducted, which contributed to a non-uniform implementation of the rules and procedures. —APP