A DELEGATION of prominent journalists from Pakistan is returning home over the weekend, after meeting with European diplomats, politicians and members of parliament.

The trip, which was organised and hosted by the European Union, saw nine journalists engage with lawmakers in Brussels to discuss, among other things, Europe’s thinking on three key issues: migration, the status of GSP+, and the all-important issue of general elections in Pakistan.

Last week, news that seasoned German diplomat and EU MEP Michael Gahler had met with the Pakistani delegates and shared his concerns about the coming elections made headlines.

It was reported that Mr Gahler, who heads the key Election Observation Mission, will not be visiting with his delegation to Pakistan “because of a lack of interest from Islamabad”.

Members of the delegation told Dawn that Mr Gahler has observed polls in Pakistan with about 50 to 60 observers each time in 2008, 2013 and 2018, and that he said no delegation of that scale would be sent for the next elections.

Mr Gahler said the reasons included no invitation being sent from Pakistan to the EU mission, some internal challenges and past experiences of the mission in Islamabad. “Only an expert mission of about five to six members will be sent,” he told the reporters.

Senior anchorperson Hamid Mir told Dawn about the conversation with the MEP.

“Mr Gahler spoke harshly about the circumstances surrounding Pakistan’s upcoming elections. He categorically said the military is destabilising not just democracy in Pakistan but also the economy and society and that politicians must adopt a harsh stance against their interference.

“He also noted that the 2018 election was rigged and manipulated and that the army imposed Imran Khan on the country. He also noted that keeping Imran Khan out of the electoral process and blocking his coverage was undemocratic. He shared many things… which were eye-opening for us.”

One journalist also shared that after these reports of the ‘non-invitation’ began to circulate, the Pakistan embassy in Brussels swung into action and said an invitation will be sent.

“The EU officials said that since Jan 2023 we have been after you to give us an invitation as it is the election year, but from Jan to July there was no response. Now you are telling us you will send it?” one of the journalists shared.

The ECP has already dismissed reports that EU observers would be denied access, saying that invitations would be sent once the election date is decided.

But officials in the EU remain sceptical about the observer mission’s visit since there is not enough time to mobilise people, prepare for travel and get visas if polls are to be held in October or November.

Besides the elections, EU policymakers were keen to discuss the state of human rights, democracy and freedom in Pakistan, linking it to GSP+ and migration.

“There are some elements in the EU that want to link GSP+ to migration, and want countries to accept deported migrants. Pakistan, however, currently is not good at admitting deported migrants,” a member of the delegation told Dawn.

It was clear, the journalist added, that even the EU does not want to end Pakistan’s GSP+ status, as European buyers have their own commercial interests linked to it.

“Somehow they feel it [GSP] is an important tool to … keep a watchful eye on Pakistan and use it as a bargaining tool.”

‘Well-informed’

The delegation’s engagements with EU policymakers seemed to alarm the diplomatic corps, with some officials in Brussels said to be nervous about what message the visiting delegates would convey about the situation in Pakistan.

One member of the group told Dawn: “The Pakistan embassy was hawkishly watching us, but we didn’t tell them [EU parliamentarians] anything they didn’t already know. We were all impressed with how well-informed they were. They have sent focus groups to Pakistan over the years who engaged with journalists, activists and academics so they kept an eye on things via these delegations. Nothing escaped them.”

The journalist recalled that when the issue of the missing persons legislation was being discussed, one of the EU politicians remarked, “Is that the same bill that went missing itself?”

It was a reference to former human rights minister Shireen Mazari’s statement to the media in early 2022 — and an indication of just how well-versed European lawmakers were on Pakistan’s domestic issues.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2023