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WEEKLY
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| EU report on polls |
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Monday, April 21, 2008
The report released by the European Union’s Election Observation Mission (EOM), which constituted the largest team of international observers present on February 18 for the general election, offers many lessons for the future. The report, the findings of which were announced in Islamabad by mission chief Michael Gahler, states the elections were competitive and the results largely accepted. However, it also emphasizes that the polling process still fell short of international standards. Two main factors have been identified for this.
One is the degree of violence seen during the polls, with more than 50 people killed in clashes during campaigning. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto is also defined as an event that triggered widespread anger and unrest across the country. But the second factor identified by the EU, on the conduct of the process itself, is perhaps most significant. The EU has suggested all parties work together on a consultative process leading towards electoral reform. It has listed greater transparency in the work of polling staff, the instant display of results at stations and on the internet and the production of accurate voter lists by the Election Commission Of Pakistan as factors that would help improve the process. In addition, the EU also mentioned bias within the official media towards the former ruling party as a reality in the polls, but noted that people had largely been able to freely express their opinion on polling day itself. A call was also made for more efforts to ensure women could participate freely while restrictions on candidacy were also deemed to be too tough.
These are realities everyone engaged in observing or following polls from an impartial perspective in Pakistan is well aware of. Indeed, the EU seems not to have taken adequate note of the quite blatant misuse of official power and machinery by former members of government in the run-up to polling day. Candidates from the PPP and the PML-N have both identified this as a key issue during the campaign. But it is also clear all these issues can be effectively overcome only in the presence of an autonomous EC. Setting up such a body, which can function free of executive control, is something all political parties must now work towards. This one step would inevitably do a great deal to tackle flaws in the electoral process and ensure a more even playing field for all participants.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
