KARACHI, Aug 15: The visiting European Union’s Election Observation Mission will observe the entire electoral process till October 10, 2002, including the preparations for elections and parties’ campaigns in Pakistan in an ‘ objective, independent and impartial manner’.

“We are in the listening phase at present. It is premature to make any comment at this stage on the electoral process in Pakistan. We realize our responsibility and have no biased view about Pakistan”, said chief observer of the EU Mission Mr John Cushnahan (MEP) (Ireland) while talking to newsmen in Karachi on Wednesday.

Answering a question, he said there was an understanding with the government of Pakistan that the EU Mission would observe the electoral process in the country. An exploratory mission had visited Pakistan in March and an identification mission had done the same a few weeks later.

Mr Cushnahan said that since its arrival on August 4, 2002, the EU Observation Mission’s 10-member core team had had meetings with chief election commissioner Justice (rtd) Irshad Hasan Khan, senior officials of the ministries of foreign affairs and interior, NADRA officials in Islamabad.

The Mission will be guided by seven criteria in reaching conclusions on the degree of freedom of political parties and candidates to organise, move, assemble and express their views publicly, the fairness of access to state resources made available for political parties and candidates’ access to the media, particularly the state media, the manner in which the registration of voters is conducted and any other issue concerning the fairness of the elections.

SDA DELEGATION: A delegation of the Sindh Democratic Alliance led by its President Imtiaz Shaikh on Thursday met members of the EU team. Mr Shaikh told them that transfers and postings in Sindh had been carried out to ensure transparent elections. He said that polling stations had been relocated in view of the increase in the population and the number of seats.—APP

Muttahida: A 4-member delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s coordination committee apprised the visiting European Union Election Mission of its views and reservations in regard to the measures being taken by the government and the Election Commission of Pakistan for the coming general elections in the country, adds our staff reporter.

The Muttahida delegation called on the EU mission members here on Wednesday. During the talks with the mission, the Muttahida leaders maintained that there existed certain “no go areas” in the city, due to which the Muttahida would not be in a position to participate in the election activities freely, said a party press release.

The Muttahida group comprised deputy conveners, Aftab Shaikh, Nasreen Jalil, Dr Farooq Sattar and a member of the coordination committee, Kunwar Khalid Younus. John Cushnahan, chief observer of the EU Election Mission, led the visitors.

The coordination committee office bearers told the mission that the party vote bank which could not be shattered despite the use of state force in the past was now once again under threat.being The Muttahida office-bearers maintained that the amendments made in the constitutions of the country by the present government would make it difficult for political parties to take part in the elections freely. “The harsh laws and the ordinance made by the government should be withdrawn in order to allow all political parties to participate in the elections”, added the press release.