ISLAMABAD: The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has proposed a three-stage methodology for the audit of election results, urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to scrutinize the results of constituencies that have been duly challenged by political parties and candidates at the appropriate legal fora using data analytics and forensics to establish the legitimacy of the outcome of General Election 2024.
Such an audit must include representatives nominated by the political parties concerned as well as independent observers to ensure the transparency and credibility of the process.
FAFEN has been advocating since 2013 for the Election Commission to conduct scrutiny of results of all constituencies before the notification of winners in an effort to strengthen the integrity of election outcomes and to minimize the post-election disputes that linger on in election tribunals beyond legally stipulated deadlines.
The post-GE-2024 situation warrants an urgent and prompt response by the Election Commission to ascertain the veracity of the claims of illegalities and irregularities by political parties and candidates, and as a prerequisite to establish that the GE-2024 results truly reflect the will of the people.
FAFEN’s proposed audit is a technical investigation that is purely based on the physical evidence i.e. official election documentation available with the Election Commission under Section 99 of the Elections Act, 2017.
These documents include: tamper-evident bags containing the packets containing the ballot papers each of which shall be sealed with the seal of the Presiding Officer or, if opened by the Returning Officer, with the seal of the Returning Officer and the packets containing the counterfoils of issued ballot papers while the packets containing the marked copies of the electoral rolls used in the poll.
The packets containing the Ballot Paper Account contained the packets containing results of the count, provisional and final consolidated statement of results of the count and final consolidated results and the packets containing the Tendered Ballot Papers included in the count; the Tendered Ballot Papers excluded from the count; the Tendered Votes List, and the Challenged Ballot Papers included in the count; the Challenged Ballot Papers excluded from the count; the Challenged Votes List; and the Spoilt Ballot Papers; while such other papers as the Commission may direct.
Since most challenges to election results revolve around Form-45 and their subsequent consolidation, FAFEN urges the ECP to also clarify the legality of multiple copies of the forms that are generated on the Election Day.
