High praise: Electoral system gets C’wealth thumbs up
Observers put Pakistan at par with developed democracies; lament pre-poll violence, women’s disenfranchisement.
"I think the electoral roll in Pakistan is now one of the best among the Commonwealth countries,” says Sir Douglas Kidd, head of Commonwealth Observer Mission. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
As millions of Pakistanis head to the polling stations today to exercise their right to vote, the head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission has acknowledged that Pakistan has made ‘tremendous strides’ in improving its electoral system, which could now match that of any developed democracy.
“We have heard reports that the electoral roll has been much improved, which is encouraging. I think the electoral roll in Pakistan is now one of the best among the Commonwealth countries,” Sir Douglas Kidd, who is heading a 13-member Commonwealth Observer Mission, told The Express Tribune on Friday.
However, he said there were certain areas of concerns, including millions of women voters, who were still missing from the electoral rolls. “We hope in due course of time this will be taken care of,” Kidd added.
The Commonwealth team will be deployed in Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad to observe the voting and counting process. The volatile security situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and tribal regions bordering Afghanistan prevented international observers from travelling there, Kidd said.
He also raised concern over the deadly wave of militant violence against political parties – including Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement. “There is a high level of insecurity related to the polls, with some parties facing a particular threat, and the loss of life in election-related violence – notably in some areas – is of great concern,” the knighted observer added.
According to an AFP count, 127 people were killed in violence in the run-up to the historic elections. Kidd offered condolences to the families of all victims.
However, he hoped that the violence would not continue on polling day and voters would use their right of franchise in a peaceful atmosphere.
Kidd, who is a former speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, said the democratic transition of power from one civilian government to another would be a key milestone in the 66-year history of Pakistan.
“It is also significant that these elections will be held under a series of new constitutional amendments which have, among other things, strengthened the ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan). We have met with the ECP and they have told us that they are ready for the polls, and we very much hope that this is the case.”
Asked if the powerful security establishment was favouring any particular political party, Kidd said he and his team did not see any apparent signs of that. “But we will make our final judgment after the polling,” he added.
The Commonwealth Observer Mission is mandated to consider all the factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process. It will assess whether the elections have been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Pakistan has committed itself.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.
As millions of Pakistanis head to the polling stations today to exercise their right to vote, the head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission has acknowledged that Pakistan has made ‘tremendous strides’ in improving its electoral system, which could now match that of any developed democracy.
“We have heard reports that the electoral roll has been much improved, which is encouraging. I think the electoral roll in Pakistan is now one of the best among the Commonwealth countries,” Sir Douglas Kidd, who is heading a 13-member Commonwealth Observer Mission, told The Express Tribune on Friday.
However, he said there were certain areas of concerns, including millions of women voters, who were still missing from the electoral rolls. “We hope in due course of time this will be taken care of,” Kidd added.
The Commonwealth team will be deployed in Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad to observe the voting and counting process. The volatile security situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and tribal regions bordering Afghanistan prevented international observers from travelling there, Kidd said.
He also raised concern over the deadly wave of militant violence against political parties – including Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement. “There is a high level of insecurity related to the polls, with some parties facing a particular threat, and the loss of life in election-related violence – notably in some areas – is of great concern,” the knighted observer added.
According to an AFP count, 127 people were killed in violence in the run-up to the historic elections. Kidd offered condolences to the families of all victims.
However, he hoped that the violence would not continue on polling day and voters would use their right of franchise in a peaceful atmosphere.
Kidd, who is a former speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, said the democratic transition of power from one civilian government to another would be a key milestone in the 66-year history of Pakistan.
“It is also significant that these elections will be held under a series of new constitutional amendments which have, among other things, strengthened the ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan). We have met with the ECP and they have told us that they are ready for the polls, and we very much hope that this is the case.”
Asked if the powerful security establishment was favouring any particular political party, Kidd said he and his team did not see any apparent signs of that. “But we will make our final judgment after the polling,” he added.
The Commonwealth Observer Mission is mandated to consider all the factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process. It will assess whether the elections have been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Pakistan has committed itself.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2013.