EU monitors sent to eight locations

The European Union (EU) election observation mission, headquartered in Islamabad, has stepped up its monitoring operations in the country.

The EU has recently sent out 22 'long term observers' to eight locations across the country to assist in the process of gaining an insight into the conduct of elections and arrangements for this.

These observers will continue to carry out election observation work until the general elections in October, and immediately after this period.

The teams of long-term observers are based in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and other major cities across the country. It is expected that they will carry out a survey of various constituencies, and will visit these spots without prior announcement, if possible.

One team from the EU also met Lahore Mayor Mian Amir Mehmood yesterday as well as other political leaders as part of a continuing effort to take views of various people concerned with elections.

The EU mission has assumed greater significance given the fact that it had seemed to clash earlier on with the military regime, with chief observer John Cushnahan, accused of interfering in "political matters" by the government.

Cushnahan, in turn, has sought proof from the military regime of any such interference.

The realisation that the EU is in fact keeping a very close watch on political developments in Pakistan and has also warned the government that it "has concerns" about recent constitutional amendments, has now led to the Islamabad regime changing tactics.

According to reports filed from Brussels, it has in fact also been making an increased effort to persuade the EU in Brussels that it is "not changing the nature" of the political system in the country.

Similarly, according to sources in the federal capital, the policy of 'taking on' the EU has been toned down, and rather than criticising the mission, the government is now seeking to persuade it that it intends to hold polls fairly and freely, and that the amendments announced by the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) will not result in any manipulation of the setup ushered in after the completion of this process.

The EU team in Lahore is, meanwhile, said to be in touch with various organisations and individuals to finalise its monitoring plans.

A decision on what constituencies to visit and how to proceed with the observation of far-flung areas will be taken after this series of meetings is complete.

Apart from the 160 EU observers in the country, monitors from South Asian countries will also be in Pakistan during the polls. Most of these monitors will be conducting their work under the umbrella of the organisation, SAHR (South Asians for Human Rights).

Local organisations are, meanwhile, also finalising detailed monitoring plans. In some cases, they are working along with institutions such as the Washington-based National Democratic Institution (NDI), which has set up an office in Islamabad.

NDI will also be organising training for political workers.