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Saturday, February 18, 2012
Gilani asks C’wealth to monitor pollsISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday asked the Commonwealth to send its observers to monitor the forthcoming elections in Pakistan. The prime minister stated this in a meeting with Commonwealth Secretary General Kamlesh Sharma at the Prime Minister’s House. He said the 20th Amendment passed by the National Assembly would ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country and nobody would doubt the credibility of the electoral process. The prime minister said the Commonwealth forum offered a valuable support to the member states for nurturing and strengthening of democracy. He agreed with the secretary general that special efforts were needed for women, youth and the underprivileged segments of society, who constituted the major chunk of population in developing countries. Gilani said a number of legislations had been enacted in Pakistan to empower women in the country. He said that issues of women and minorities were being addressed and the government had therefore legislated to protect women in particular. The National Commission for Status of Women would monitor and report on the compliance of laws for elimination of discrimination against women, he added. The Commonwealth secretary general said he looked forward to meeting the prime minister in London on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth in June this year. He also expressed gratitude for the support he was given for re-election as secretary general of the Commonwealth at Perth. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk