Election challenges: UNDP says poll process must not be deterred

Country director Marc-André Franche says police and army must ramp up efforts to ensure peace during election.

ISLAMABAD:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said on Monday that the fragile security situation in Pakistan must not at any stage be allowed to impede the election process.

“The army and police must step up their efforts and take necessary measures [to maintain peace during] the election period,” UNDP Country Director Marc-André Franche told The Express Tribune.

The country director spoke about the electoral cycle support programme designed by the organisation to support electoral systems in at least 50 countries. However, in Pakistan, the programme pays attention to the needs of the polling system. In the first phase, it helped train 18,000 security officials – 2,000 policemen each from Sindh and Punjab. Some 14,000 officials were later trained through the aegis of Punjab police.

“We identified key needs with Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) before finalising the programme,” Franche said.

For the first time, officials were briefed on election procedures. They were also trained to mitigate election violence. “We cannot let a few individuals derail the democratic process,” he said.

The UNDP country director was optimistic with the way politics has panned out in Pakistan. He termed the May 11 polls a historic moment for Pakistan. “This is a historic chance for Pakistan to show that its institutes are getting stronger,” he added.

Franche said that he was pleased with the courage of women contesting polls. However, the real challenge, he said, is to facilitate female participation. The organisation aims to achieve a voter turnout that surpasses the dismal 44% recorded in the 2008 elections.

For this purpose, 400,000 polling officials, including women, will be trained. They also plan to implement a transparent elections results management system and voter education that reaches out to one million eligible voters.

Furthermore, the polling stations will be segregated. “This will encourage women to come out and cast their vote, especially in sensitive areas,” said Franche.

The country director observed that it would be difficult to predict election results this time as there would be around 20 million new voters.

Keeping in mind the power crisis in the country, the organisation has developed a backup electricity plan.

“These elections will make or break the leadership. These are going to be the best elections in Pakistan,” Franche added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2013.