Over 1000 foreign observers, mediamen to monitor polls
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Over 1000 international election Observers and Media men would be coming to monitor the elections. Besides approximately 20,000 local observes would also monitor the election. These views were expressed by spokesman Interior Ministry, Brig (r) Zafar Iqbal Cheema in a weekly press briefing here on Tuesday. He said that government has made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the international Observers and Media personnel to discharge their duties in a free manner without any hindrance.
They are also free to visit any place of their choice and the government would provide them the necessary security. The Ministry of Interior has also issued comprehensive guidelines for facilitations of international Observers and Media personnel, he added. He further said that government has constituted a committee headed by Additional Secretary Ministry of Interior to facilitate the International Observers and Media men and extended help whenever needed. All relevant ministers and departments are represented in a committee including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Election Commissions of Pakistan and Provincial Home Department, he added.
He said that EC has set up 64175 polling stations throughout Pakistan out of which 37636 in Punjab, 13405 in Sindh, 8173 in NWFP, 3457 in Balochistan, 383 in Islamabad while 1122 in FATA.
Election Commission has also declared 8928 polling stations as most sensitive out of which 3787 situated in Punjab, 1575 in Sindh, 1094 in NWFP, 1350 in Balochistan and polling stations in FATA. The number of the sensitive polling stations is 19380 out of which 11358 situated in Punjab, 3633 in Sindh, 3219 in NWFP, 1150 in Balochistan, 20 in Islamabad.
Zafar Iqbal Cheema further said that special immigration counters have been established at Islamabad International Airport and also at the four Provincial Capital airports to facilitate immigration formalities of arriving International Election Observers and Media Personnel.
International Election Observers are expected to visit the Election Commission of Pakistan or Provincial Election Commission Officers immediately on arrival as the case may be depending upon their port of landing; where they would be briefed and provided with accreditation cards.
Thereafter the observers are requested to visit respective Home Departments who would detail conducting officers for their visit to districts of their choice and would also take are of their security. Similarly, Media personnel on arrival are expected to visit External publicity wing of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at coordination of security.
He also advised the International Observers and Media men not to visit are few areas particularly in NWFP and Balochistan, which are risky from security pint of view. These areas include Swat, Shangla, Lower Dir, Malakand Agency, Hangu, Tank and Bannu district of NWFP, South Waziristan Agency, North Waziristan Agency, Mohmand Agency, Bajaur Agency, FR Kohat Darra Adam Khel, FR Bannu areas of FATA while three districts of Balochistan which include District Kohlu, District Dera Bugti and Killa Abdullah while in Sindh parts of the reverine belt known as Kacha area.
Therefore International Observers and Media men have been advised nor to travel to these areas.