The government has undertaken extensive measures to facilitate International Election Observers (IEOs) and International Media Personnel (IMPs), expected to be in Pakistan to observe the general election scheduled on 18 February (Monday), it was said in a set of guidelines released by the Interior Division, here on Monday.
It said that apart from the Election Commission of Pakistan, Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Information & Broadcasting as well provincial home departments were involved in formulating the guidelines and these government departments will liaise amongst themselves to facilitate the observers, to do their best to ensure, as far as possible, security to election observers and foreign media personnel.
However, the guidelines emphasised that government departments engaged in this task request co-operation from them on receiving briefings and further guidance relating to security from the Election Commission.
The objective of the guidelines was to facilitate and not to restrict them. In this regard Pakistan is making a particular request considering the country's security situation.
'All international observers and media personnel would be free to visit any place of their choice except a few identified areas and the government will provide unhindered access to polling stations to the observers subject to the requirements of their personal security.'
Facilitation: International observers and foreign media personnel are expected to contact the Election Commission in Islamabad or one of the provincial capitals after reaching Pakistan.
As for the media personnel, they should contact the External Publicity Wing of Federal Information Ministry. Thereafter, media personnel would be expected to visit the provincial home departments to receive a briefing. The latter (provincial home departments) would also facilitate their visit to destinations of the media choice.
Committee: A committee headed by an additional secretary level officer in the interior ministry has been constituted to oversee the whole process and extend help whenever and wherever needed.
All relevant ministries and departments including Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Election Commission of Pakistan and Provincial Home Departments are represented in the committee.
Immigration: A special immigration counter has been established at Islamabad international airport as well as at four provincial capital airports to facilitate immigration formalities of International Election Observers and Media Personnel. Upon arrival, International Election Observers and Media Personnel are expected to fill in a form 'S' and hand it over to immigration staff, to help the interior ministry in maintaining necessary information about the visit and ensure security of the IEOs and IMPs.
Briefings for International Election Observers: International Election Observers are expected to visit the Election Commission of Pakistan or Provincial Election Commission Offices on arrival depending upon their port of landing where they would be provided accreditation cards.
Thereafter, the observers may visit the respective home departments who would detail conducting officers for their visit to districts of their choice as well as to provide security.
The EC would also provide the visit programme of IEOs to the relevant district returning officers to fully facilitate them to watch the election process. IEOs and IMPs are also expected to indicate their itinerary (limited to two districts) to the home departments to make security arrangement for them.
Briefing for International Media Personnel: Similarly, IMPs should also visit the External Publicity Wing of Federal Information Ministry at Islamabad or Provincial Press Information Departments, depending on the airport they land. They would receive briefing, and will be facilitated in security co-ordination. Thereafter, IMPs should visit the respective home departments. Security: Interior ministry in co-ordination with the provincial home departments would ensure security at all places, the guideline said.