Election results 2024

In Islamabad, the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) highlighted on Saturday that the delay in preparing and announcing preliminary election results marred what was otherwise a well-organized election, prompting concerns about the credibility of the election results.

Imran Khan

In its initial assessment of the recent general elections, Fafen also emphasized that the caretaker government's decision to suspend cellular and internet services on election day, despite citing security concerns, undermined the years of parliamentary endeavors to improve the management of election results through amendments to the Elections Act, 2017. These amendments aimed to enhance the integrity, efficiency, and transparency of electoral outcomes.

The network remarked, 'However, the nation has finally reached a conclusion to a phase of unsettling uncertainty, which not only drained the populace but also inflicted strains on the economy, characterized by persistent inflation, unemployment, and widespread disillusionment.

"It is incumbent upon political parties to cease their obstinate disengagement and facilitate a smooth transition of power, thereby ensuring the crucial political stability that the country urgently requires."

In its report, Fafen highlighted various issues surrounding the recent general elections in Pakistan. Here are the key points mentioned:

Approximately 60 million voters participated in the elections held on February 8 to choose representatives for 265 National Assembly and 590 provincial assembly constituencies, marking one of Pakistan's most fiercely contested political competitions.

At a significant portion (28.4%) of the 2,761 observed polling stations, presiding officers failed to provide Fafen observers with Form 45 (result of the count), as required by the Elections Act, 2017. Similarly, about half (49%) of these polling stations didn't furnish Form 46 (ballot paper account), violating legal provisions.

Form 45 wasn't conspicuously displayed outside nearly one-third (29.4%) of the observed polling stations, undermining electoral transparency at a critical stage of the result management process.

Although procedural transparency was relatively better at polling stations, Fafen observers faced inconsistent access to returning officers' (ROs) offices to observe preliminary electoral result preparation processes.

Only about half (114) of the 244 National Assembly constituencies allowed Fafen observers to witness result tabulation proceedings, contrary to ECP instructions for independent observation at all stages, affecting electoral transparency.

Restrictions on candidate agents' presence during tabulation proceedings were reported in 66 NA constituencies.

During the nomination process, returning officers in 171 instances denied Fafen observers access to inspect contesting candidates' nomination papers, and 88 ROs barred observers from observing the candidate scrutiny process.

Approximately 1.6 million ballots were excluded from the count in 235 NA constituencies, a number similar to that of the 2018 general elections. In 25 NA constituencies, excluded ballots exceeded the margin of victory.

Late delimitation of constituencies, due to the seventh digital population census announced days before the National Assembly dissolution in August 2023, caused election delays, disadvantaging political parties and candidates in their preparations.

The ECP did not publish progressive polling station-wise results on its website, and adherence to recent amendments to the Elections Act, aimed at enhancing the efficiency and transparency of the election result management process, remained weak.

Despite ECP instructions for ROs to issue provisional consolidated statements of results by 2 am following the election day, ROs failed to provide progressive results, leading voters to rely on media coverage, often based on incomplete information.