News
Sunday, February 24, 2008
NGOs criticise EC over poll process
LAHORE: A collaboration of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and a small number of foreign observers from South Asian countries have said in a report that the Election Commission’s (EC) impartiality can be questions due to problems in the voter lists and glitches in the election process. The report published by the collaboration, known as the Pakistan Coalition for Free, Fair and Democratic Elections (PACFREL), says that foreign observers were from Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan and the NGOs that joined the coalition included the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Ecumenical Advocacy Forum, South Asia Partnership Pakistan, Aurat Foundation, SUNGI Development Foundation, Interactive Resource Centre and Pakistan Institute for Labour Education and Research. The report says the voter lists were not well prepared and at some polling stations wrong lists were found in circulation. Wrong ballot papers with same serial number were also found both for national and provincial elections. It says that the partiality of the EC has also been questioned by political parties. The report says that it was based on the observation of 2,200 volunteers who monitored 110 National Assembly constituencies. The report says polling started at about 8:30pm in general. It says that at several polling stations concerned polling agents we not present. For example, it says, like NA 139, Kasur, where polling could not start before 9:17am. The report also observes that voting turnout was comparatively higher in rural areas than in urban areas. In several areas, unconcerned people were seen going inside polling stations. Women’s voting turnout was generally low, as in NA 140 the first woman who cast her vote was no before than 1pm. In some areas of the Punjab and NWFP, it says, women were not allowed to cast vote. In Swabi women were completely barred from taking part in elections and the locals had said that if any woman votes, she would have to pay Rs 200,000. Incidents of violence, rigging, theft of ballot papers and involvement of local administration in some areas amounts to mismanagement and inadequate arrangements made by the EC, the report said. staff report
Courtesy Daily Times