European Union inquires Pakistan about initiatives for holding fair election

Lahore: European Union (EU) Ambassador to Pakistan Lars-Gunnar Wigemark called on caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Arif Nizami on Saturday and discussed government’s initiatives for holding fair election and facilitation of visas.

Lars-Gunnar said the people of Pakistan should be proud
of democracy in the country. He said
the European Union (EU) had observed the 2008 elections and given a
number of recommendations to improve the electoral system.

He said Pakistan was on its way to
consolidate democracy and added that Pakistan was a pillar of
democracy in the region. “The European Union (EU) has been
invited by the ECP to observe elections and it would be done in an impartial way,” he added.

Gunnar said that they fully supported the democratic process,
adding that the media could play a tremendous role in fair
and free elections. He said the ECP was playing its role according to the
constitution. “EU chief observer Michael Gahler is arriving
tomorrow and will meet the caretaker PM besides all political
stakeholders,” he added.

He said that the member of the EU observation mission
would be 110, adding that they would follow the role of the media
and the election campaign and afterwards the counting of votes
would be made according to a certain methodology and
international standards.