EU poll mission slashed over cold reception in Pak

Five weeks after the mission has started its observation work, no visible progress has been made on these issues, it said in its report, excerpts of which were published by the local newspaper daily Times Today.

The report said the government has also refused to accord any security protection to the mission asking it to make private arrangements.

‘‘Nor has the mission so far been given official accreditation by the Election Commission, though one has been promised close to the elections. Mission officials operate with their EU identity cards which have a stamp at the back from the Ministry of Information,’’ it said.

The publication of the report follows President Musharraf’s meeting with a delegation of EU and Scandinavian diplomats on Saturday, during which he reiterated his commitment to hold ‘‘free, fair and transparent’’ elections. According to the official media, Musharraf has promised all possible assistance to the observers.

The final report to be submitted by the team would be debated by the EU Parliament and would take a fresh look at EU’s policy towards Pakistan. The EU has appointed its biggest ever poll monitoring mission of 164 members.