The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Pakistan today released its final report on the 25 July general elections, which contains 30 recommendations to improve future electoral processes.
The Chief Observer of the EU EOM, Michael Gahler, Member of the European Parliament from Germany, returned to Pakistan to present the final report. “Our final report brings together the findings and analysis of our observations over the period the mission was in Pakistan, as well as comprehensive recommendations for future elections,” said Mr Gahler at a press conference in Islamabad. “The recommendations in the report are addressed to the relevant institutions – the Election Commission of Pakistan, the government, the National Assembly, political parties, civil society and other key stakeholders.”
The report notes the inclusive and consultative reform process undertaken after the 2013 elections, resulting in the partial or complete implementation of 38 of the 50 recommendations made by the EU EOM in 2013.
However, key concerns remain, including: a lack of oversight of political party campaign finance; vague and subjective candidacy registration criteria; incomplete access for observers to all stages of the electoral process; the absence of a unified electoral roll; and limitations on media and freedom of expression.
On the work of the Election Commission of Pakistan, the EU EOM concludes that, while the technical aspects of the elections were largely well administered, the ECP failed to provide timely information to voters and stakeholders on its decisions, procedures and other information of public interest. The report also highlights inadequate voter education, flawed postal voting, and a lack of transparency in the delimitation of constituencies and the transmission of results.
Other important issues mentioned in the report include: the undue restrictions on freedom of expression which led to considerable media self-censorship; constraints on freedom of assembly; the presence of the armed forces inside polling stations; and the underrepresentation of women as voters and assembly members.
