January 24, 2008	Thursday	Muharram 14, 1429

SIALKOT, Jan 23: A three-member team of European Union (EU) observers on Wednesday visited this district and reviewed the process of upcoming elections’ management.

The EU observers called on District Coordination Officer (DCO) Capt Atta Muhammad Khan (retired) and District Returning Officer (DRO) Suhaib Ahmad Roomi and discussed various matters pertaining to the conduct of Feb 18 elections.

The DCO and the DRO briefed the visiting EU team about the arrangements made by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for holding free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections.

The observers said that the EU would monitor the elections in this district keenly as Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam’s bigwigs, including party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain, were contesting the polls from two twin constituencies of this district.

EU observers Vygands Aleksandravicius, Ms Injrid Halmova and Zahid Mehmmod carried out in-depth perusal of elections arrangements.

They said that holding of free, fair and transparent general elections was need of the hour and vital to establish sustainable democracy.

They said that the whole world, particularly the EU, was eying these elections as a step forward towards establishment of democracy and to promote real democratic norms and values in Pakistan.