Poll practice: All about playing free and fair
FAFEN working to hold local political leader accountable to voters.
MULTAN:
The free and fair election network (Fafen) in collaboration with The Asia Foundation (TAF) has launched programme for effective, transparent and accountable governance to address critical challenges facing Pakistan.
According to Fafen officials, a complex, multi-pronged strategy has been developed to enhance public engagement with elected, public and political institutions. “Under its 3-year Supporting Transparency, Accountability and Electoral Processes in Pakistan (Staep) program which is also supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Fafen will expand the scope of its existing work to 200 National Assembly constituencies in 120 districts across Pakistan,” said Fafen official Dr Rasheed Karar, adding “this includes 89 constituencies in all districts of Punjab. The province will be monitored by 32 of 42 non-governmental organisation members.”
Fafen officials said that developing links between citizens, elected representatives and institutions is critical. “We want a checks and balances system in place at the district level so complaints against public officials can be addressed,” he said.
Fafen initiated the work to achieve these objectives in July 2009 with the $5.1 million financial support from the Embassy of Netherlands. Fafen has implemented of these objectives in 150 National Assembly constituencies in 108 districts over the last one-and-a-half year.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2011.
The free and fair election network (Fafen) in collaboration with The Asia Foundation (TAF) has launched programme for effective, transparent and accountable governance to address critical challenges facing Pakistan.
According to Fafen officials, a complex, multi-pronged strategy has been developed to enhance public engagement with elected, public and political institutions. “Under its 3-year Supporting Transparency, Accountability and Electoral Processes in Pakistan (Staep) program which is also supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Fafen will expand the scope of its existing work to 200 National Assembly constituencies in 120 districts across Pakistan,” said Fafen official Dr Rasheed Karar, adding “this includes 89 constituencies in all districts of Punjab. The province will be monitored by 32 of 42 non-governmental organisation members.”
Fafen officials said that developing links between citizens, elected representatives and institutions is critical. “We want a checks and balances system in place at the district level so complaints against public officials can be addressed,” he said.
Fafen initiated the work to achieve these objectives in July 2009 with the $5.1 million financial support from the Embassy of Netherlands. Fafen has implemented of these objectives in 150 National Assembly constituencies in 108 districts over the last one-and-a-half year.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2011.