Center for Media , Democracy Pakistan expresses satisfaction on voting process

ISLAMABAD—The Election Monitoring Secretariat of the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) Pakistan in its preliminary release congratulates the Pakistani nation on completion of the electoral process in a peaceful manner keeping in view the law and order situation of the country. Though there have been reports of some law and order incidents on the Election Day, the CMD is satisfied to note that the number of incidents of violence has been quite low.
The CMD expresses gratitude to the political parties and rival candidates for keeping the temperature low. The CMD also expresses gratitude to the President of Pakistan, federal and provincial government authorities, law enforcement agencies and district government for tight security arrangements on the polling day and for holding of a peaceful elections as per schedule.
The arrangements, facilities and procedures for the elections were satisfactory. The CMD elections observers received cooperation and support from Election Commission of Pakistan, federal and provincial governments in carrying out monitoring of election.
The international observers of the CMD have compiled their reports of their observations which would share their reports with the media on Tuesday upon their arrival in the capital from different parts of the country.
The CMD will release its report on electioneering on the same occasion.
CMD expresses its full support for Pakistan’s democracy and urges all political parties to accept the election results whole heartedly and show political maturity so that successful democratic process continues to prosper.—PR
Agencies Add: US Senator and former Presidential candidate John Kerry has said Monday voters and supporters of different candidates have expressed their confidence in the voting process. The US Senator, who is in Pakistan to observe the elections, said this in an interview after visiting a polling station.
He said he was impressed by the polling structure devised by the Election Commission and hoped that the confidence of the people would remain intact during reporting of the results. Replying to a question John Kerry said both Pakistan and the United States wanted strong relationship.
He said the United States wanted stability in Pakistan and it is right of the people of Pakistan to elect a government that worked constructively to resolve their problems. To another question, Mr. Kerry expressed the hope that the elections would provide new opportunity to restore stability in the country.
US Senator John Kerry Monday said he was impressed by the election process and the arrangements for the polling to provide a chance to the people to use their right of vote.Talking to reporters during his visit to a polling station in Lahore on the polling day, the US Senator appreciated the enthusiasm of the political workers and said they had worked hard for these elections. On the question of Pak-US relations, he said, “Obviously we want strong relationship going forward.”
He said it is important that rights of the people be protected. He said the United States interest is not for one person. He said it is on the ability of the Pakistani people to exercise their right of vote and to see a government constructively moving to bring people together to resolve the problems. John Kerry said, “We will like to see these elections to be the new opportunity for the government to restore stability, either through coalition or majority. He said whatever happens, we want to have good relations that work in the interest of the Pakistani people.”
The US Senator said every American is praying for the success of Pakistan adding “We have enormous respect for the sovereignty, history and culture of the Pakistani people.” He said, “We know there has been struggle since the day of independence, to find a governing structure, that is really delivering to the interest of the people.” Kerry said, “Our help is that military can step back, and the people through their representative government could step forward” adding that the elections and democracy are the best way in this regard.