29 September 2004	Wednesday	13 Shaban 1425

ISLAMABAD, Sept 28: The International Organisation for Migration has said that its electoral staff registering Afghan refugees for the Oct 9 presidential elections is facing threats from anonymous quarters.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, chief of the IOM's Out of Country Registration and Voting Peter Erben said that there were threats against organizers, voters and social mobilisers.

Mr Erben blamed "unfortunate groups" who, he said, were interested in disrupting the electoral process. However, he said that he was satisfied with security arrangements made by Pakistan and Iran and expressed the hope for a peaceful election process in both the countries.

He said authorities had provided full cooperation vis a vis security measures for the conduct of the elections. Mr Erben said some 20,000 electoral staff had been trained to mobilise community in Pakistan and Iran to raise awareness amongst the Afghan voters.

He said Afghan voter turnout in Pakistan was expected to be between 600,000 to 800,000. Expressing concern about discouraging women from casting their votes, the IOM head said that social mobilisers were trying to raise awareness about the importance of the exercise with the relevant communities.

IOM is scheduled to register voters from Oct 1 to 3 in the NWFP, Balochistan and Islamabad. IOM has not made any arrangements to register Afghan Refugees in Sindh, Punjab and Tribal areas.

It was learnt that the decision not to set up registration centres in Sindh and Punjab was taken by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the joint election management body because of the shortage of time and logistical problems.

Although, officials maintained that Afghan refugees in Sindh and Punjab could be registered if they travelled to the NWFP and Balochistan on their own, but, they would not be provided transportation facilities or any other logistical support.