Islmabad, Oct 01: Piqued at observations made by EU poll monitors questioning the credibility of Pakistan's General elections, President Pervez Musharraf has asked the observers to restrict their role to monitoring the elections and avoid making remarks on the political environment. Taking a serious view of the reported EU observations questioning the legality of barring former Premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from contesting polls, Musharraf said they should confine themselves to monitoring polls and refrain from making political comments.

"They did not know about the political culture of the country and see Pakistani political culture from the eyes of the British system," he was quoted as telling reporters in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) on Monday.

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He said the government has extended full assistance to international observers during their visit to any polling station throughout the country. "We have assured them of security on election day and the army would also be involved in their security so that they could visit the polling station anywhere in the country."

Musharraf said besides poll monitors from EU, Commonwealth and other countries, the Japanese Premier has also shown interest to send a team of observers for monitoring the elections.

"The Japanese team is likely to arrive before the election and we will also provide them with all assistance to monitor the elections throughout the country," he said.

Meanwhile, the EU observers team headed by John Cushnahan has clarified that what was published in the Pakistan media two days was not an interim report but part of "briefing". Bureau Report