LAHORE, Nov 9 Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's observers have arrived in Gilgit to monitor the general election in Gilgit-Baltistan to be held on Nov 12.
The HRCP team, led by co-chairperson Mr. Iqbal Haider, consists of rights activists and members of governing body, including Mr. Husain Naqi, Mr. Kamran Arif, Ms Uzma Noorani, Ms Parveen Soomro, and Mr. Najam-u-Din.
The HRCP has already organised a consultation with stakeholders and trained local observers for monitoring the electoral process in their respective areas.
In its statement, the HRCP said “The monitoring of elections in Gilgit-Baltistan is of vital importance because polls are the first step towards democratic governance and rule by consensus.”
The commission is of the view that in a region that has no prior tradition of electoral process, monitoring of voting by neutral observers is crucial.
During pre-poll monitoring, the HRCP received complaints that the ruling party was making attempts aimed at deriving benefits of the incumbency. The HRCP demands of the federal government to take steps for ensuring a fair and impartial conduct of the polls by addressing the complaints, especially that the acting governor, who is a member of the federal cabinet, is throwing his weight around for electoral gains.
