Preparatory measures: FAFEN unveils plans for observing next polls

It plans to deploy 16,000 specially-trained observers on election day

Our Correspondent February 01, 2017

Two supplementary resolutions were adopted by the house which were about paying tributes to the sacrifices of the armed forces on Defence Day and condemning terrorism in Quetta and Mardan. PHOTO: FAFEN

ISLAMABAD: The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has revealed its plans for observing electoral processes for the next general election, expected in August 2018, by mobilising more than 22,000 trained non-partisan citizen observers in all National Assembly constituencies. According to a statement, at a gathering of key election stakeholders on Tuesday, FAFEN indicated that it will start observing pre-election processes from April 2018 by mobilising more than 6,000 citizen observers across the country.

FAFEN’s pre-election observation methodology will be based on international best practices, national law, and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) code of conduct for candidates and political parties.

Abiding by the ECP code of conduct for observers, FAFEN observers will report on political alignments, whether there is a ‘level playing field’ for all political contestants, participation of women and marginalised communities, inappropriate use of public resources, development schemes, postings and transfers, the candidate nomination process, campaign financing and content, political violence, polling scheme formulation and other ECP preparations for election administration, and resolution of election complaints, the statement said.

On election day, FAFEN plans to deploy 16,000 specially-trained and duly accredited observers nationwide. They will observe and report on election management, including whether all polling stations and booths (especially for women) are set up as in the polling scheme, the environment around polling stations including illegal campaigning and law and order, as well as voting, ballot counting and election result consolidation processes.

FAFEN’s election day methodology will also enable it to produce a ‘Parallel Vote Tabulation’ for each NA constituency based on vote counts collected directly from a statistically valid sample of polling stations.

After the elections, FAFEN will collaborate with lawyers to observe and study the establishment, proceedings and decisions of election tribunals. Based on this post-election observation, FAFEN will report on the quality and speed with which election result disputes are settled.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2017.