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Friday, April 12, 2013
Pakistan welcomes foreign election observersISLAMABAD: Pakistan has welcomed foreign election observers from different countries, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.
Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, in his weekly briefing here at the Foreign Office on Thursday, said, “Pakistan welcomes foreign election observers because our leadership is committed to holding free, fair and transparent election in the country.” He said this exercise would help improve the credibility of the country in the international community. Regarding the decision of the European Union Election Observers to not travel to FATA and Balochistan, the spokesman said, after getting accreditation from the Election Commission of Pakistan, all the observers are issued a travel advisory by the Interior Ministry.
He said so far they have received requests from the National Democratic Institute, Commonwealth, United Kingdom, Turkey, Malaysia, Australia, Mauritius and Maldives for sending their election observers, and their case is under process. About threatening statements by North Korea, the Foreign Office spokesman said Pakistan shares the concern of the international community on the recent tension and deteriorating situation in the Korean Peninsula. He said Pakistan had always supported nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. “We monitoring the evolving situation in Korean Peninsula and taking necessary measures to ensure the safety of our diplomats and staff there.” he said. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said dialogue on strategic issues between Pakistan and Russia is going to be held on the 25th of this month as part of the ongoing consultative rounds of meetings. He said issues relating to disarmament, non-proliferation, strategic stability in South Asia and cooperation in science and technology would be discussed during the meeting.
Replying to a question, the spokesman described Pakistan-China friendship as a source of stability in the region and said no one should worry about growing relationship between the two countries. On India’s concern about handing over of Gwadar Port to Chinese authorities, the spokesman said Pak-China relations are a source of strength and stability in the region. The spokesman said both the countries are time-tested friends.
On Pak-India ties, the spokesman said, “We have shown degree of responsibility and restraint on incidents of violations of Line of Control and hostile statements by India.” Replying to a question about travel advisory issued by the US State Department for its citizens, the spokesman said Pakistan’s security situation has improved to a great deal as has the number of visitors and investors are travelling to the country.
To a question, the spokesman said Pakistan is not a part of any scoring game on its nuclear programme. He said Pakistan’s nuclear programme is only for deterrence purposes. Answering a question regarding new labour and residency laws in Saudi Arabia, the spokesman said Pakistan has taken up the matter with the Saudi authorities and Pakistan counsel general visited the deportation camps and jails there.
He said in this regard Pakistan has also written a letter to the Saudi king, saying that Pakistanis are contributing to the Saudi economy. The spokesman said Saudi Arabia has given a three-month grace period to Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia to regularise their status. He said Pakistan Embassy in Saudi Arabia is in touch with Saudi authorities to protect the interests of the Pakistanis. Replying to another question, the spokesman said Pakistan is developing relations with Egypt in a positive way and any individual statement cannot affect the trajectory of these relations. Regarding current status of Pakistan-US relations, he said, “We have regular contacts with the US at all levels and relationship is being advanced on the basis of mutual respect, dignity and mutuality of benefits”. He expressed the hope that the new elected leadership in Pakistan will take the progress of Pak-US relations forward. Regarding Afghanistan, he said there are challenges, but Pakistan and Afghan leadership are trying to resolve the issues. appCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk