Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (r) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso on Monday said his government was cognisant of importance of elections and would extend all possible assistance to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct free and fair polls.
He was talking to Michael Gahler, a German Member of European Parliament and chief of European Election Observer Mission to Pakistan, who called on him along with his delegation on Monday.
Michael Gahler is presently on a visit to Pakistan in connection with the upcoming elections.
Khoso said the caretaker setup had been geared up with the sole purpose of ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in the country.
“We will extend all assistance to the ECP, headed by a distinguished jurist who was appointed with consensus and mandated to supervise holding of general elections in the country,” the prime minister said.
He said all political parties and candidates of different persuasions were contesting the elections and there was a great enthusiasm among the people of Pakistan. In this regard, he credited media for creating awareness among the people, which he termed a healthy development.
Welcoming the European Union Observer Mission, the prime minister said it was for the first time in history of Pakistan that a transition would take place from one civilian democratic government to another.
Gahler informed the prime minister it was for 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 general election held in 2008.
He thanked the government of Pakistan for inviting European Union Observers to monitor the forthcoming elections and said Pakistan was more open in comparison to other countries.
Gahler appreciated the cooperation extended by the government to the observers and said the EU Mission had good relations and working relationship with the government.
The mission will also hold meetings with officials of the Ministry of Interior and the ECP in the days to come.
The meeting was attended by Lars Wigemark, EU ambassador and Hannah Roberts, deputy chief of the EU Election Observer Mission.
Senior officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Election Commission and Prime Minister’s Secretariat were present during the meeting.