Although Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah congratulated the victory of PPP leaders, the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) observed that elections were rigged as party activists and law enforcement personnel remained inside the polling stations for influencing the polls process.
The presence of large number of police personnel inside the polling stations, unlawful campaigning and suspicious voting patterns marked the by-elections on February 18 in three provincial constituencies of Sindh and Punjab, according to a preliminary observation report issued on Tuesday by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
The by-elections were held in one constituency of Punjab and two Sindh provincial constituencies – PP-239 (Vehari-VIII), PS-73 (Jamshoro-cum-Dadu) and PS-84 (Thatta-I). Elections for PP-239 were held after the demise of Sardar Muhammad Khan Khichi. The Sindh Assembly seats fell vacant following the resignations of PPP parliamentarians, members of provincial assemblies (MPAs) Murad Ali Shah (PS-73) and Sadiq Ali Memon (PS-84), who failed to submit their declarations on dual nationality to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Security personnel remained present at 142 out of 183 observed polling stations (78 percent), according to reports from trained FAFEN observers. In 141 cases, policemen were seen inside the polling stations. It remained the highest in PP-84 (59 polling stations) followed by PP-239 (53) and PS-73 (29). Under the electoral rules, security personnel are authorised only to maintain order even at sensitive polling stations. They can only enter polling stations or booths when requested by the presiding officer.
Observers saw the workers of contesting candidates campaigning and canvassing in violation of elections laws at one third of the observed (62) polling stations. Most party camps or party workers were seen in PP-239 (42 polling stations) followed by PS-73 (11) and PS-84 (9). Besides, 11 incidents were reported in PP-239 of persuading voters within or around polling stations to vote in the favour of specific candidates. One reported case was led by a polling official, another by police/security personnel, one by armed civilians, five by influential persons, and three by candidates or their supporters.
FAFEN’s innovative methodologies for detecting suspicious voting patterns include scrutiny of the pace of voting and details of counterfoils in ballot books. FAFEN observers recorded suspicious voting patterns at 14 polling booths of 10 polling stations, nine of which were combined and one was a female-specific polling station. Most of these polling booths were in PS-73 (nine booths at five polling stations) followed by PS-84 (three booths at three polling stations) and PP-239 (two booths at two polling stations).
FAFEN deployed 87 trained observers to monitor the voting and counting processes inside pre-assigned sampled polling stations in three constituencies. The observers documented their findings on a standardized checklist based on the provisions of the Representation of the Peoples Act (ROPA) 1976, Conduct of Elections Rules 1977, and instructional handbooks that ECP has provided to the election officials. FAFEN’s preliminary report is based on observation of 183 polling stations in three constituencies – 35 male, 42 female and 106 combined.