In a bid to ensure impartiality and transparency in the country's national assembly elections, Pakistan's election commission has invited international observers to monitor elections in the South Asian country.
Also, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday indicated that the much-awaited polls would be held in January.
The ECP has issued a detailed two-page invitation to international observers and media, providing them with clear instructions on how to obtain accreditation cards and visas for their visit to Pakistan during the polls.
The Election Commission has declared that the general election will be held tentatively in the last week of January 2024, Geo News quoted the ECP as saying.
"The Election Commission of Pakistan has an open-door policy for the accreditation of all national and international observers, subject to the fulfilment of codal formalities (Section 238 of the Elections Act 2017)," the report added.
The law makes it clear that observers will not be allowed to monitor the elections without accreditation, which will be issued after the necessary documents and security clearance have been obtained.
The Election Commission has therefore stated that the visa can be obtained through the online portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, in accordance with the existing laws.
The ECP believes that the presence of global observers can "add a valuable dimension to the electoral process by ensuring its transparency and impartiality", while lending credibility to the country's electoral process.