The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) said on Thursday that the controversies affecting the second phase of local elections in Sindh will not bode well for the general elections – expected later this year.
The delayed results marred local elections on January 15, prompting allegations of rigging by political parties — Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and others.
“Controversies over the quality of the electoral process do not bode well, especially when political parties are preparing for constitutionally mandated general elections by October 11, 2023,” FAFEN said in its report on the elections.
The election watchdog said many of these conflicts stem from weaknesses in the legislative framework that governs elections, which are widely shared among all political actors, regardless of political differences, coming together to push for electoral reforms. But needs to be corrected through dialogue.
Unless elections lead to political stability, the democratization process will continue to weaken, as will public confidence in democracy and its ability to improve people’s social and economic well-being, the report says.
“The Election Commission, at the same time, needs to open up to political actors and address their legitimate concerns through the regulatory space available to it under the Elections Act, 2017, so that truly ‘inclusive’ elections can be held. can be ensured, and minimize the incidence of election boycotts by major political parties in the future.”
Problems with presiding officers
He said that although the interim results of Karachi were made publicly available within two days amid allegations of manipulation and rigging, the overall results of the districts of Hyderabad division are still awaited.
It said that the ECP in its original notification for the second phase on June 10, 2022 had allotted four days from polling day to consolidate the election results.
FAFEN observers noted the omissions and lapses in the polling station’s result forms – Form-11 (statement of enumeration) which occurred repeatedly during the second phase.
“They reported cases where the presiding officers did not fill up the result forms correctly, leaving blanks to record the names of polling stations, registered voters, gender-disaggregated number of polled votes, and signatures of polling officials. Didn’t.”
Voter turnout and situation
Despite the controversy and uncertainty over the conduct of the elections, FAFEN said, an impressive number of people voted in the municipal elections in the districts of Badin, Jamshoro, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Thatta and Malir.
The report added that, however, the voter turnout was relatively low in Karachi Central, Karachi East, Karachi West, Karachi South, Korangi, Hyderabad and Kemari districts.
Accordingly, the turnout in Hyderabad was more than 40 percent, while in Karachi it was less than 20 percent, except for Malir. In the last municipal elections held in 2015, the turnout in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions was 36% and 58% respectively.
The report said that the voting process remained orderly, unlike the previous phase when overcrowding at polling stations created unpleasant conditions.
“Legal and procedural irregularities related to campaigning in and around polling stations and the process of issuing ballots during the first phase continued during the second phase.”
The report added that the atmosphere on election day remained largely peaceful as FAFEN received only 14 reports of verbal altercations on January 15, 2023, compared to 55 incidents of violence, including some physical and armed clashes, during the first phase. .
