Pak Govt disallows Cwealth election observers

The Pakistan Government has rejected the Commonwealths request to issue visas to its observers for the January 8 elections.

Islamabad, Dec 27 : The Pakistan Government has rejected the Commonwealth's request to issue visas to its observers for the January 8 elections.

Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said that Pakistan would review its relation with the 53-nation organisation after the elections.

"The Commonwealth has said that it will review Pakistan's suspension from the organisation after the polls. That is the time when we will actively consider our relationship with the Commonwealth," he told reporters.

Sadiq said Pakistan had approved 200 visas for election observers, including 60 from the International Republican Institute (IRI), 12 from the European Union (EU) and 55 from other countries.

"The IRI's observers belong to various countries like the US, Iraq, Cambodia, Liberia, Azerbaijan, Morocco and South Africa. Some of the observers have reached the country," he added.

Sadiq said the observers included parliamentarians, journalists, and civil society members.

He said the observers would follow the Election Commission's code of conduct, adding that they would be issued passes to visit polling stations.

ANI