Elections competitive despite significant problems: EU Observers

ISLAMABAD, Feb 20:(Imtiaz Ahmed in Islamabad):-  In a preliminary assessment the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has concluded that Monday’s national and provincial assembly elections in Pakistan were competitive and the polling process "achieved increased public confidence."

      "We are relieved that election day has passed off better than had been anticipated and we commend the courageous commitment to the democratic process by voters, candidates, election staff, and representatives of media and civil society under challenging security conditions," Michael Gahler, Chief Observer

of the EU EOM told a news conference here Wednesday.

      He said the polls were held in an environment that provided "significant

challenges for the conduct of democratic elections."

      Michael Gahler said that the mission has concluded that polling was assessed positively on the whole, although "some disorder and procedural irregularities were noted, particularly in female polling stations."

      The compilation process was positively assessed in the majority of constituencies observed but there were also complaints from some areas that candidate agents and observers were not granted sufficient access to result compilation at the constituency level, he said.

      "Very few returning officers displayed constituency results with a breakdown of polling stations," the mission leader observed.

       Gahler said that technical preparations for the elections saw some

improvement, but "problematic issues identified during the 2002 elections have

not been sufficiently addressed."

       On the whole counting was well conducted in the stations observed, although statements of the count were not always issued to agents and were generally not displayed.

       According to the assessment the campaign was low key and subdued, but it

saw a broad range of views expressed. Regrettably there was some loss of life,

Gahler said, while recalling the December assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

      The mission referred to rules for the media during the election period and

said these amounted to "limiting freedom of expression."

      "Private media provided candidates and parties with pluralistic coverage during the campaign but the public broadcasters gave limited coverage of other parties," Gahler said.

      He said the Mission is currently observing the results consolidation

process and will remain in Pakistan to observe post-election developments,

including complaints and appeals.

       Gahler said all outstanding complaints and appeals against the results should be processed quickly, impartially and transparently and detailed results

by polling station should be published.

      "A final EU report containing detailed recommendations for the future, will be published within two months of the completion of the entire process," Gahler added.

      Speaking on the occasion, Robert Evans, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation said,"the election period has shown the strong desire of the Pakistani people for democracy."

      "In response, we urge political parties to work responsibly to address the challenges ahead and demonstrate commitment to strengthening the electoral

and wider democratic process," Robert Evans remarked.

      He said that the EU parliament looks forward to more contacts between its

members and the newly elected parliament of Pakistan and wishes success of the democratic process.

      He hailed the participation of the voters and said the turnout was more than expectation which shows public confidence in the democratic system.

      The EU EOM has been in Pakistan since 9 December 2007. On the election day the Mission had 131 observers from 23 European countries as well as Norway and Canada, including a seven-member delegation of the European Parliament.