EU sees volatility, unrest calmed
By Asghar Ali Mubarak

ISLAMABAD—In the light to the rescheduling of the national and provincial assembly elections by the Election Commission of Pakistan the European Union Commissioner has decided to upgrade the EU Limited Observation Mission to a full Election Observation mission (EOM) headed by Chief Observer Michael Gahler, Member of the European parliament.
While addressing a press conference at a local hotel, Michael Gahler expressing the keen desire for free, fair and transparent elections in Pakistan, has said that reservations of polity regarding elections were being closely monitored. He announced to publish the initial report within 72 hours, while the final report would be published after two months.
He said that Election Commission has fixed a new date of 18th Feb for elections, in view of deteriorating situation of law and order in the Country, and informed that the Commission had traveled length and breadth of Country, excluding FATA and closely attended to reservations and concerns voiced by various political party.
He also informed about complaints and cases registered about looting arson and rioting in rural areas of Pakistan, while political parties also have reservations and concerns against LGs (Local Governments) role in elections, hoping that LGs would abide by law and ethics in the elections.
The Commission has also reviewed the code of conduct implemented by Election Commission and the prevailing environment being conducive for elections. The Commission urged that joint efforts of polling agents, civil society and
Media would play a decisive role in ensuring the fairness and transparency of the polls while electoral staff would have to work with all honesty to ensure transparency and satisfy the contesters. He said that initial electoral results would be announced at the polling stations and did not want local administration to interfere in the electoral process, while the media should be given full and free access for coverage of the occasion. Violence may erupt in volatile Pakistan in the run-up to February elections but a six-week postponement of the polls has not fuelled unrest, the head of a European Union observer mission said on Friday. The Election Commission postponed the general election, which is meant to complete a transition to civilian rule in the nuclear-armed country, because of violence that erupted after opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated last week.
Nearly 50 people were killed, most of them in Bhutto’s home province of Sindh, after she was killed in a gun and suicide-bomb attack while leaving a rally in the city of Rawalpindi. The election for a lower house of parliament and assemblies in Pakistan’s four provinces was originally scheduled for Jan. 8 but will now be held on Feb. 18.
“The security situation is, of course, well, volatile,” the head of the EU observer mission, Michael Gahler, told a news conference.