Pakistan vote campaign favoured ruling party: EU observers

(ISLAMABAD) - European Union election monitors said Wednesday that conditions during Pakistan's election campaign favoured the ruling party but the vote itself was competitive.

Opposition parties swept to victory in Monday's parliamentary poll, ousting the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) that supports key US ally President Pervez Musharraf.

"A level playing field was not provided for the campaign, with public authorities primarily favouring the ruling party," the EU said in a preliminary statement on the vote, adding that "some disorder and procedural irregularities were noted."

However, the "elections were competitive and the voting process, while not without problems particularly in female polling stations, achieved increased public confidence," the preliminary report said.

Opposition parties, including slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's grouping, had alleged "massive" pre-poll rigging in favour of the PML-Q.

"We are relieved that election day has passed off better than had been anticipated," said chief EU observer Michael Gahler.

"However, elections were held in an environment that provided significant challenges for the conduct of democratic elections."

Problems included public authorities favouring the former ruling party, serious restrictions on the right to stand as a candidate, curbs and pressure on the media and the involvement of local mayors in campaigning, according to the EU statement.

The complaints and appeals framework was also flawed, it said.

"Regrettably, there was significant loss of life, including the assassination of Benazir Bhutto," the statement said.

The observers added that the detention of senior judges under a state of emergency and the lifting of the emergency the day before the start of the campaign "were not conducive to a good environment for elections".

Gahler said the mission would remain in Pakistan to observe post-election developments, including the complaints and appeals process.

"The observers were happy over the transfer of power from the previous government to the previous opposition. Monday's elections reflected the desire of people for a change," he said.

"The EU will continue to watch the transition to full democracy. We hope a stable government will emerge in the coming months," he added.