ISLAMABAD: The European Union Election Observation Mission Pakistan is keen to see that will of the people is reflected in the 2013 election as a result of the 18th constitutional amendment, Hannah Theresa Roberts, Deputy Chief of the Mission, told The Nation yesterday. Roberts, who had observed Pakistan’s 2002 and 2008 elections as part of EU missions, conceded that security remained the major challenge to monitor election in Fata and Baluchistan. “It does not mean that the mission of 110, including observers from Canada, Switzerland and Norway, will leave the regions unobserved,” she said, adding the mission would meet people in these areas instead of observing election on the ground. She said experts would be working on different aspects of the election.
Islamabad rules out IMF package
LAHORE: Pakistan will not ask for another International Monetary Fund (IMF) package and will assure it that repayment of loans will be on time and the country will not face any financial crisis after clearing instalments. This was a consensus among delegates leaving tonight for Washington to attend the annual Spring Meeting of the IMF and World Bank. Dr Shahid Amjad Chaudhary, the newly-appointed adviser to the prime minister, who is also leading the delegation, chaired a meeting. Other participants include Federal Finance Secretary Waqar Masood, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Ansar Javeed, and the additional finance secretary. The governor of the State Bank of Pakistan will join them in Washington. An official who attended the meeting said all members agreed on the one-point agenda that they would not negotiate anything with the Fund which will put the country and the next elected government in trouble. He said Dr Chaudhary was very clear that any loan negotiations at this juncture would be dangerous for the country. Despite getting very little time to evaluate the financial position, the adviser said no final decision would be made in haste, he added.
Agencies
