Pre-U10/7-March-2013: This report highlights issues pertaining to public accessibility to District Election Commissioner (DEC) offices as observed by the District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) of the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). The report identifies challenges related to security at DEC offices and public accessibility.
Pre-U9/6-Mar-2013: This report is based on direct interviews of political party office-bearers conducted by District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) deployed across the country by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). It has been compiled from data gathered between February 1 and 28, 2013, from 51 districts - Sindh (20 districts), Punjab (18), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (7), Balochistan (4), and one each in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the Frontier Regions (FRs). FAFEN DLTOs use a standardized interview format for discussions with political party office-bearers, including three questions on violence.
Pre-U8/Mar-4-2013: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) acknowledges the authority and responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in administering elections. ECP official policy is to ensure transparency and openness in election administration. One goal of FAFEN’s pre-election observation methodology is to assist the ECP to demonstrate its commitment to fulfillment of this policy during all stages of the election process. To this end, FAFEN has deployed 110 trained District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) across the country and equipped them with a comprehensive set of checklists on a wide range of pre-election issues. Data gathered by these DLTOs is the basis for this report.
Pre-U7/Mar-1-2013: This report is based on data gathered by District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) of the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) during February 6-21, 2013. It highlights 23 postings and transfers recorded in 11 districts across Pakistan. Eight of the districts were in Punjab, two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and one in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). FAFEN DLTOs monitor postings and transfers of civil servants that could be relevant to the 2013 General Elections.
Pre-U6/26-Feb-2013: This report highlights the use of state resources for campaigning by political parties. It has been prepared from information gathered February 8-20 by District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) of the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). DLTOs observe whether campaign materials – such as flags, banners, posters, stickers and wall chalking – of political parties/candidates are on the premises of government offices. They also observe if any government officials participate in political activities. This report includes observations of government offices in 22 districts and DEC offices in 50 districts.
Pre-U5/22-Feb-2013: This report reflects FAFEN’s observation of election preparations by political parties across various districts of Pakistan. It has been compiled from data gathered by FAFEN’s District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) who interviewed 31officials representing 12 political parties in 20 districts. FAFEN’s standardized protocol includes 15 questions related to electioneering strategy and other topics. Sixteen (16) representatives of the 12 different political parties were interviewed in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP), eight (8) in Punjab, four (4) in Balochistan, two (2) in FATA and one (1) in Sindh.
Pre-U4/19-Feb-2013: This report reflects FAFEN observation of early campaigns of political parties across various districts in Pakistan. It has been compiled from data gathered by FAFEN’s District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) in three districts of Sindh, six districts of Punjab, and one district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) between February 1 and February 9, 2013. FAFEN observers are tasked to monitor and record political alliances, early campaigning, and other significant political developments that could have an effect on the upcoming general elections.
U3/17-Feb/13: This report reflects the number of transfers and postings of government officials, election staff, police administration and district government officials in 11 districts across Pakistan. It is based on data gathered by FAFEN’s District Long-Term Officers (DLTOs) from four Punjab districts, five districts of Sindh, and two districts of Balochistan between February 1 and 12, 2013. FAFEN observers are tasked to monitor and report on postings and transfers that may be relevant to the upcoming general elections in any way.
The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians had the highest incidence of campaign materials posted at public buildings/offices between February 1 and 7, 2013. These observations were made by the Free and Fair Election Network’s District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) in 14 districts across Sindh and Punjab. The material included party banners, posters, stickers and wall chalking on the premises of public offices. FAFEN observers saw PPPP posters, graffiti and stickers at 17 public offices, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) which had such material at five. Seven other parties also had their campaign material at public places.
Transparency is a hallmark of free and fair elections. Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) encourages the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to send instructions to all District Election Commissioners (DECs) to ensure maximum transparency and cooperation with observers and other stakeholders throughout the election process. This report aims to highlight the issues about election administration transparency as observed in 15 districts across Pakistan where FAFEN’s District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) conducted interviews with the DECs. The data has been compiled from five districts in Punjab, four in Balochistan and four in Sindh, three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and one in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The interviews were conducted in the first week of February 2013.
