Justice Naimuddin, the chief election commissioner of Pakistan, sent a letter to
the 27 Pakistani IPSOs here in Cambodia congratulating them on their involvement
in the UNTAC administered elections.
Pakistan, which is itself preparing for nationwide parliamentary elections to be
held on July 14 was hard-pressed to relieve the polling station observers given the
need for election commission staff back home.
However, in light the special request from the U.N. Secretary General and the stated
commitment to the democratic process by Election Commission of Pakistan, involvement
in the Cambodian Plebiscite was deemed valuable.
Seven of the Pakistani IPSOs were stationed in Preah Vihear, while the remaining
20 were posted to polling sites in Battambang province. Preah Vihear was the site
of recent fighting between a Pakistani infantry company and Khmer Rouge guerrillas.
