Pakistan Views

The Europe Union election observation mission (EOM) to Pakistan on Wednesday said that the February 18 polls were short of international standards wherein ruling PML-Q, backed by President Musharraf, was given free hand on state resources and media during the campaign.This was stated by the chief observer and member of European Parliament Michael Gahler at the launching of final report on polls that were monitored by 131 observers and recommended that steps should be taken to ensure independent judiciary having full confidence of stakeholders to effectively oversee the election process. The problems identified during 2002 polls were not addressed, he said.The international community, he said, would be closely watching reforms made on recommendations while the mission would be visiting Pakistan in a year’s time to see what progress has been made.Gahler praised the people for showing courageous commitment to democratic process by turning up for votes on polling day amid sweeping fear of suicide attacks and violence. It was a situation of ‘now or never’ for Pakistan to embark upon reform to get away from the allegations, he added.He said that legislative framework for elections does not provide an adequate basis for the conduct of genuine democratic elections and a number of areas need to be precisely regulated and brought in line with international standards.A statement distributed to journalists quoted Ghaler saying that although the February 18 polls were competitive and the results were accepted, there were enduring problems with the framework and conditions for elections, which if not addressed through reforms could pose serious risk of electoral problems in future.The elections process started amid emergency rule that suspended constitution with fundamental rights, removed many judges including Chief Justice that damaged public confidence in judiciary and the rule. This was particularly significant, given the judiciary prominent role in the elections administration as well as adjudication.The mission also expressed concern over legal requirement of bachelor degree for the right to stand as a candidate which excluded the overwhelming majority of the population.The EU elections monitoring mission said it also found that Election Commission of Pakistan lacked transparency in key areas of its working practices and had not formally consulted political parties and other stakeholder besides shortcoming in voters’ registration process which include large number of duplicate, erroneous entries and omissions. The attacks on political parties and gatherings claimed over 150 lives and assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
RECOMMENDATIONS: The EU mission recommended over 80 proposals to the government of Pakistan of which 10 key called for steps to ensure independence of judiciary trusted by all the stakeholders for effective oversight of election process. Elections legislations should reviews in a consultative manner with specific issues of independence and transparency of its administration, appointment of members and CEC should be subject to stakeholders and elections appeals to courts and tribunal should be dealt swiftly.All polling stations results should be swiftly displayed at the constituency and internet, ECP should produce an accurate and complete electoral roll, reform of legal framework regulating media activities should be undertaken with reduced restrictions and clear cut definition, state media should ensure impartiality, efforts should be made to reduce women’s under-representation and if CINCs are admissible for registration must be facilitated.