MULTAN, Feb 7: France and European Union (EU) wanted free and fair elections in Pakistan and the EU would monitor the presidential election, said French Ambassador Regis De Belenet in a meeting with Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, former National Assembly speaker, on Wednesday.

Belenet said that he would send suggestions by Pakistani politicians to the EU. He said the EU believed that a democratic, prosperous and strong Pakistan could play a better role in the international community. He said he had met the chief election commissioner and several politicians so that free and fair elections could be held in Pakistan.

Gilani said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was a democratic party and had its roots in people and that his party would participate in elections. He said a free election commission was the first requirement for the free elections.

He criticised President Pervez Musharraf for asking votes for the ruling party in public meetings and called it pre-poll rigging.

Other participants of the meeting were: MPAs Javed Saddiqi, Nazim Ali Shah, Arshad Raan and Ehsaanulhaq and Malik Salahuddin Dogar, Malik Amir Dogar, Moazma Hasnain, Bushra Naqvi, Habibullah Shakir and Barrister Wasim.