Election observers from several international bodies including the European Union (EU) and the Commonwealth have arrived in Pakistan.

Disqualified PPP leader Ms Bhutto

They are planning to observe the parliamentary polls scheduled on 10 October.

Pakistan's junior Foreign Minister, Inamul Haq, while welcoming the foreign observers, advised them to hold their comments until after the elections.

He said issues should not be pre-judged.

His comments came a day after an internal briefing document by European Union election observers was leaked in a local newspaper.

It raised issues relating to the disqualification of former Prime Ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto.

Campaign hots up

The EU's chief observer, John Cushnahan, said the document was part of an on-going briefing process and the issues mentioned were ones that had been conveyed to their team.

He stressed that no report would be issued until after voting had ended.

Mr Inamul Haq gave assurances that the polls would be free, fair and transparent.

Meanwhile the campaigning is hotting up in many parts of Pakistan.

'Strengthening democracy'

With government security machine stretched to the full, the Interior Minister, Moinuddin Haider has said that foreign observers would be provided with maximum security.

A pro-Benazir election rally

But it was too late for the EU to ask for a bigger delegation. The EU team now comprises more than 80 observers.

Meanwhile, a 20-member Commonwealth observer group has also arrived in Pakistan and is having a series of briefings with the election commission and political parties.

The Commonwealth group, in a statement, has said their observation of the polls would help strengthen democratic processes, institutions and values in Pakistan.