Civil society demands probe into 2024 elections

ISLAMABAD: On the first anniversary of the 2024 general election (GE-2024), the PATTAN coalition-38 — a network of civil society organisations (CSOs), labour unions, community-based organisations (CBOs), and intellectuals — has repeated demand for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for alleged electoral rigging.

The demand was made in Volume I of the coalition’s report on the election, titled “War on Voters?” The report urges the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to fulfil its commitment to investigating the allegations made by Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattah, who publicly accused the ECP chief and a former top judge.

Additionally, the report appeals to human rights and women's rights groups, the National Commission on the Status of Women, UN Women, and the UNDP to demand that the ECP and the government immediately allocate all reserved seats for women and minorities without further delay.

The coalition has appealed to the Supreme Court and urged the ECP to ensure the completion of Senate elections by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, emphasising that establishing parity among federating units is a constitutional necessity