A 15-MEMBER DELEGATION OF EUROPEAN UNION HEADS OF MISSION CALLED ON THE CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER
--------Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan
Islamabad, the 19th December, 2007.- Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan informed that His Excellency Antonio Ramalho Ortigao, Ambassador of Portugal, along with a 15-member delegation of European Union Heads of Mission called on the Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner Mr. Justice ® Qazi Muhammad Farooq today in the Election Commission Secretariat, Islamabad and discussed matters relating to ongoing process of General Elections, 2007-08. The members of the delegation stated that European Commission has decided to send 50 Members’ Long Term Observers for observing General Elections 2007-08 in Pakistan. The delegation is expected to arrive on 25-26 December, 2007.
2. Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad further said that the Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner briefed the participants about various election-related matters and told the delegates that under the law, a voter will have to produce his/her NIC or CNIC to the Presiding Officer to get the ballot paper and assured that the forthcoming elections in the Country will be held honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law. The Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner also assured the participants that the Election Commission of Pakistan would facilitate access at all level of administration to the International Observers; issue Accreditation Passes and provide necessary briefing and briefing material about the ensuing General Elections. Further, the International Observers will also be taken good care of by the Provincial Election Commissioners and their officers as and when they visit them.
3. The Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner also told that:
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About 65,000 Polling Stations shall be established throughout the country and the lists of polling stations shall be published in the official Gazette atleast 15 days prior to the conduct of General Elections and that once the Notification is issued by the DROs, no change in the list of polling stations will be made. However, under the exceptional circumstances, any change can be made only with the formal approval of the Election Commission.
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517 ROs / DROs have been appointed for the conduct of the general elections
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All election related complaints are being dealt according to the directives issued by the Honorable CEC. Nazims have been instructed strictly to observe the code of conduct and should refrain from using the influence of their offices for the political gains of the contesting candidates.
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Two million “Guideline Booklets” have been printed for the guidance of the polling agents
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Extensive public awareness campaign has been launched by the Election Commission in collaboration with the UNDP to create awareness among the masses about the importance of vote and how to exercise it, their right and responsibilities and the importance of General Elections through an education programme on the print and electronic media.
Special arrangements are being made for the National and International Observers to enable them to observe the upcoming General Elections. Accredited passes shall be issued to the observers by the Election Commission for visiting the polling stations on the polling day. They shall be provided with the briefing manuals relating to general elections