ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The head of an EU observation mission said on Friday it was determined to carry out its task of assessing October elections, even though it had yet to receive a formal invitation to do so.
The EU mission, led by Irish Member of the European Parliament John Cushnahan, arrived here this month. The mission was accused by the government officials of interfering in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
Local media have also quoted the Chief Election Commissioner, Irshad Hasan Khan, as saying the EU should confine itself to observing the poll and not oversee the entire election process, which was the job of the Election Commission.
Cushnahan said he was surprised by the attacks.
“Never once have we done anything which would conflict with either the criteria of the mission’s basis for operations, or with a pledge not to interfere with the internal politics of Pakistan,” he told Reuters.
Cushnahan said his mission would follow established procedures when assessing voter registration, independence of the election administration, the constitutional and legal framework, media access, abuses of state resources and freedom to campaign.
He said he would report back to Brussels next week having met government ministers, representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations.
The mission has yet to receive a formal invitation or a memorandum of understanding covering its work but progress was being made towards securing them, Cushnahan said.
The mission was determined to carry out its task even if the formal documents were not forthcoming, he added.
“Obviously it would proceed in a better understanding if those two issues were addressed. But the mission will continue nonetheless.”
SECURITY ASSURANCES CRUCIAL: Security guarantees were crucial for the mission’s 164 members, especially given a series of attacks on Western targets this year that have killed dozens of people.
“Obviously it is fundamental to our ability to deploy our observers throughout the country and we hope that we will also make progress on this matter,” Cushnahan said.
Members of the observation team will come from member states of the European Union, but their deployment will depend on the outcome of talks with the authorities on safety.
“In the sensitive security atmosphere of Pakistan, it would be irresponsible for myself and my team to deploy team members in a situation where they could be at risk,” Cushnahan said.
He said it was too early to give any assessment of the pre-election period, as constitutional amendments proposed by President Musharraf had not been finalized.
The opposition and legal bodies have strongly objected to the proposed amendments, which would empower Gen Musharraf to sack the prime minister and cabinet and dissolve an elected parliament.
The opposition has also protested against laws blocking the country’s last two prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from standing in the poll on the grounds that they have served two previous terms and have outstanding convictions.
Cushnahan has refused to be drawn on whether the bans on Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were fair, but said on Friday that the elections were “more than about those two individuals”. —Reuters