Election results of gynaecologists’ body withheld amid concerns over e-voting

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan (SOGP) has withheld the formal notification of its recently held elections for the 2025–2027 term following reports of serious technical and procedural irregularities in the e-voting process, the election committee of the society announced on Sunday.

The SOGP elections, conducted on May 31, 2025, were held entirely through an online voting platform. However, according to an official notification issued by the election committee, numerous concerns were raised by members, candidates and independent observers regarding the transparency and integrity of the electronic polling mechanism.

“In the interest of transparency and fairness, the formal notification of election results is currently withheld,” the committee said in its statement. “A thorough investigation has been initiated, reviewing all technical, procedural and operational aspects of the voting process to determine the nature and extent of the issues raised.”

Sources familiar with the matter told The News that complaints from across the country highlighted glitches in the voting software, limited access for some members and discrepancies in vote counting. While the election committee did not publicly comment on the specific nature of the complaints, it acknowledged that the reported issues warranted a detailed probe before certifying the results.

The SOGP is one of Pakistan’s leading professional bodies representing women’s health specialists and plays a key role in shaping maternal and reproductive health policy. The outcome of its elections determines the leadership responsible for steering the organisation’s national agenda, academic initiatives and advocacy efforts.

To ensure institutional continuity during the investigation, the election committee announced that the current governing body of the SOGP would continue to function in full capacity without any restrictions.

The committee emphasised that its objective was to uphold the democratic values of the organisation and maintain the trust of its members. It assured that once the investigation was completed and a final report prepared, the results of the elections would be formally declared and the new governing body notified accordingly. The SOGP elections are held every two years.