By Kalbe Ali in The Dawn, Nov 14
ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: Government interference, weak administration, procedural irregularities and erroneous voter lists characterised the Gilgit-Baltistan polls, a report issued by a coalition of NGOs has said.
The report which is based on preliminary findings and pre-election analysis has been compiled by the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen). It says significant changes will be necessary for future elections in Gilgit-Baltistan to meet national and international standards.
The report said that despite legal restrictions on the use of state resources in favour of a party or a candidate in any election, functionaries of the federal government, including the prime minister and more than 10 ministers, not only campaigned for the People’s Party but also used state resources and authority to make policy decisions that had considerable implication.
Promises of development funds and schemes, incentives to government employees, and announcement of administrative up-gradation of remote areas boosted the chances of candidates fielded by PPP in 23 constituencies, creating an uneven field for other contestants.
The prime minister’s public speech in Skardu two days before the elections was a clear case of political influence over the vote in favour of his party’s candidates.
Similarly, the report added, Baitul Maal and Benazir Income Support Programme Funds were used by candidates of a party to woo voters. Hundreds of thousands of forms for these programmes, in original and copies, were found circulating in Gilgit-Baltistan during the election campaign.
Senior members of Punjab and NWFP governments also used official resources to travel and canvass for candidates of their respective parties.
According to the report, the governor also sided with the candidates of his party at a time when he had the official responsibility to protect the neutrality of the elections.
Erroneous or missing entries on the voter lists remained one of the major issues at most polling stations across Gilgit-Baltistan.
These issues cropped up due to clerical errors. At some polling stations, such as the Boys High School, Jagir Basin in GBLA-1, scuffles broke out between agents of opposing candidates and polling staff because of problems with voter lists.
According to the report, voter lists were prepared in haste, in only 18 days of September, followed by a week-long display period to allow public scrutiny. People of 18 years or more did not need the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) for registration as voters, although they would be required to show their CNICs to vote. It said the Election Commission was aware of the errors in voter lists. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/fafen-sees-flaws-in-gb-polls-419
Be First to Comment