ISLAMABAD, Aug 7: Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan on Wednesday made it abundantly clear to a delegation of observers from the European Union that they would be welcome to observe but not supervise the forthcoming general elections.

“Their (observers’) function is not to supervise but to observe the process as a whole and to form their judgment accordingly,” the CEC told John Cushnahan, Chief Observer, European Union Electoral Mission to Pakistan.

The CEC said that because a large number of observers would be streaming in, it would not be possible for the government to provide any special and individual security and protocol to them, as the whole government machinery would be busy performing election duties.

The Election Commission, however, will be “very happy” to provide them free access to witness the election process.

The Election Commission of Pakistan was committed to acting with neutrality, objectivity and independence at every stage of the electoral process, the CEC said.

He said that electoral rolls were verified through house to house enumeration by a staff of more than 94,000.

He said with the lowering of age limit for eligible voters from 21 years to 18 years, the Commission had to undertake the exercise of registering voters between 18 and 21 years of age afresh.

He said the electoral rolls had already been published and made available in every area from August 5.

The CEC said that an Allocation of Symbols Order had been finalized after seeking proposals for amendments from the political parties and general public.

The CEC said that EC would soon formulate a Code of Conduct for the government-controlled electronic media — the PTV and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation — to ensure that the election coverage was not biased in favour of any particular political party, candidate or leader. The proposed code, he said, would also ensure that the coverage on television was balanced and fair and no political party or leader was discriminated against.

The Election Commission, he said, was of the view that the incumbent governors and ministers, desirous of contesting elections, should leave the office before filing their nomination papers.

The observers for elections to the parliament and the provincial assemblies were normally required to pay three visits to the constituencies.

The observers, the CEC said, had a crucial role at the time of counting of votes.

The observers shall be in a position to effectively determine, in their own independent judgment, whether the elections were free, fair and transparent, and whether the results reflected the wishes of the people.