ISLAMABAD: The Constitution of Pakistan terms it mandatory to convene the session of the National Assembly within 21 days, following the day on which a general election is held, to elect Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Leader of the House. According to Article 91 (2) of the Constitution of Pakistan, “the National Assembly shall meet on […]
ISLAMABAD: Out of a total strength of 342 Members in the National Assembly, the Prime Minister or Leader of the House shall be elected through a majority vote, whereas the support of more than half of its members (over 171) is not compulsory to elect the new Premier. According to Article 91 (4) of the […]
ISLAMABAD, July 27, 2018: More than half of Pakistan’s registered voters went to the polls on July 25, 2018 to mark the second consecutive democratic transition of power, clearing the uncertainties over the future of democracy in the country. The election campaign was long-drawn and competitive, in an extremely polarized political environment punctuated by a few major terrorist attacks. Election Day was better managed, relatively peaceful and free of any major controversy until late night concerns emerged over the transparency of the counting process, and the subsequent slow process of announcement of provisional results prompted some political parties to reject the election results.
Despite issues with the Result Transmission System (RTS) set in place by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to meet the requirements of the new Election Law that was enacted in October 2017, Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) acknowledges significant improvements in the quality of critical electoral processes in the election cycle that inspired greater public confidence. With regard to voter registration, with a particular focus on increasing women enrollment on electoral rolls, and greater diligence in following legally defined principles in delimitation and effective enforcement of campaign rules, the Election Commission appeared to be more assertive in its attempt to deliver an improved quality of election. Read More >>
ISLAMABAD, July 24, 2018: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has been conducting periodic assessments of the political environment and the implementation of election-related laws, rules and regulations since January 2018, as part of its multi-phase observation of General Elections (GE) 2018. The purpose of the observation is to contribute to the evolution of an election process that is free, fair, transparent and accountable, in accordance with the requirements laid out in the Elections Act, 2017. FAFEN produces regular updates, information briefs and reports to provide objective, impartial and evidence-based information regarding the quality of electoral and political processes to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), political parties, the media, civil society organizations, and citizens.
This assessment of polling stations comprises analysis of the Final Lists of Polling Stations available on the ECP’s website, and findings by FAFEN observers on the availability of facilities at 10,895 polling stations in sampled electoral areas, perceptions of 1,574 National Assembly (NA) candidates regarding the process of finalizing polling stations and estimations by 12,104 citizens concerning ease of access. As part of its election observation methodology, FAFEN randomly sampled 50 electoral areas in each NA constituency. Read More >>
ISLAMABAD, July 21, 2018: The Senate on Saturday concluded debate on a Motion under Rule 218 regarding political situation in the country ahead of general...
ISLAMABAD, July 20, 2018: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) is observing the electoral and political environment in the country since January 2018. Following the announcement of the election program for General Election 2018, FAFEN expanded the scope of its election observation from the district to the constituency level. This Election Campaign Monitor is based on the direct observation of election campaign activities and implementation of Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Contesting Candidates, media monitoring of electoral violence, and citizens’ interviews on electioneering, voter freedom, women’s enjoyment of voting rights and voter inducement.
As part of its election observation methodology, FAFEN randomly sampled 50 electoral areas in each National Assembly (NA) constituency. In each sampled electoral area, FAFEN interviewed three citizens, including women, to gauge citizens interest in participating in political gatherings and gather their views on the political environment, election campaign, and women’s freedom to vote. FAFEN observers also conducted an assessment of campaigning activities and recorded violations of ECP’s Code of Conduct in the sampled electoral areas. Read More >>
ISLAMABAD, July 20, 2018: The Senate held discussion on a Motion under Rule 218 regarding prevailing law and order and political situation in the country...
ISLAMABAD, July 15, 2018: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), a coalition of over 50 leading civil society organizations, will deploy 19,000 observers across 272 National Assembly consistencies to observe the voting and counting processes at 85 percent of the total polling stations established by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the General Election to be held on July 25, 2018.
Acceding to FAFEN’s request, the ECP has directed the Provincial Election Commissioners (PECs) in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh to issue accreditation cards to FAFEN observers after fulfillment of all codal formalities. FAFEN will deploy 9,884 observers in Punjab, 4,225 in Sindh, 3,549 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (including FATA), 1,117 in Balochistan and 225 in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). FAFEN’s accredited non-partisan and trained citizens will observe the Election-Day environment outside polling stations, incidents of electoral and political violence, pre-polling preparations at the polling stations, voting processes inside the polling booths and stations, ballot, vote counting and ECP forms-filling processes at the polling stations and the barriers to women voting. Read More >>
ISLAMABAD, July 13, 2018: The Senate on Friday discussed the preparations by caretaker government for holding peaceful as well as free and fair elections...
