Government Committed to Extend All Possible Assistance to ECP: Prime Minister
(2013-04-09)
Mr. Michael Gahler, a German Member of the European Parliament and Chief of the European Election Observer Mission to Pakistan, presently on a visit to Pakistan in connection with up-coming elections, called on Prime Minister Justice ® Mir Hazar Khan Khoso along with his delegation at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on April 8, 2013.
While talking to Mr. Gahler, the Prime Minister said that the Caretaker set up has been geared up with the sole purpose of ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
The Prime Minister said all political parties and candidates of different persuasions are contesting the elections and there is a great enthusiasm among the people of Pakistan.
Crediting the media for creating awareness among people, the Prime Minster said it has generated a lot of enthusiasm in the people of Pakistan, which he termed as a healthy development.
Welcoming the European Union Observer Mission, the Prime Minister said that it is the first time in the history of Pakistan that a transition will take place from one civilian democratic government to another.
His government, the Prime Minister said, is cognizant of the importance of these elections and would extend all possible assistance to the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct them.
“We will extend all assistance to the Election Commission of Pakistan, headed by a distinguished jurist who was appointed with consensus and mandated to supervise the holding of General elections in the country”, said the Prime Minister.
Mr. Michael Gahler informed the Prime Minister that this was the second time that he was heading the European Union Observer Mission in Pakistan. The last time he came to Pakistan was in connection with the General elections held in 2008.
Mr. Gahler thanked the government of Pakistan for inviting European Union Observers to monitor the forthcoming general elections and said that Pakistan was more open in comparison to other countries.
Mr. Gahler appreciated the cooperation extended by the government of Pakistan to the European Union Observers and said that European Union Mission has good relations and working relationship with the government of Pakistan.
The Mission will also hold meetings with the officials of the Ministry of Interior and the Election Commission of Pakistan in the days to come.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Lars Wigemark, EU Ambassador and Ms. Hannah Roberts, Deputy Chief of the EU Election Observer Mission. Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Election Commission and Prime Minister’s Secretariat were also present during the meeting.
Islamabad
April 9, 2013