The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), a regional network based organization of 21 civil  society  groups  from  across  Asia, views  with  great  concern  intimidation  of  its  member  organization  in  Pakistan  the Free  and  Fair  Election  Network  (FAFEN)  and  a  need  for  timely  and full  transparency  from  the  Election  Commission  of Pakistan (ECP) during the post‐election period.

Of  immediate  concern  is  the ability  of  all  Civil  Society  Organizations  in  Pakistan,  including FAFEN,  to  operate freely  and without the threat of violence and intimidation.  Civil  Society  is  crucial  to  democracy  in  Pakistan,  as  it  is  in  all countries, and threats made against its members undermine the important work that groups such as FAFEN perform. Such threats, no matter their source, only serve to weaken the democratic system itself.

On  matters  specific  to  the  post‐election  period,  full  disclosure  of  all  data  related  to  election  results  as  well as longer-term Electoral Reform should be the primary focus of the Election Commission of Pakistan as a means to lessen current and future election irregularities. By focusing on the important, outstanding issues made evident in the past election, the ECP can show the public in Pakistan and beyond  that  they  are  sincere  about  improving  the  electoral  processes in Pakistan. On the other hand, if the ECP does not exercise its authority to make polling station data public and undertake real reform, they will surely fail to move the country’s election system forward. ANFREL believes that the right choice is clear;  only  through  complete  transparency  and  real  reform  can  the  ECP  deliver  the  improvements  that  the  people  of Pakistan deserve.

ANFREL  hopes  that  state  authorities,  political  parties  and  media  can  choose  a  constructive  path  that  allows  CSOs  to contribute  to  the  transparency  and […]

By NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD

Pakistanis deserve credit for their courage, and the military for allowing the election to go ahead and deploying 73,000 troops to keep order. And while serious charges of vote-riggingmust be investigated, it appears that most Pakistanis are willing to accept partial returns suggesting that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his party will dominate the next Parliament.
Mr. Sharif faces staggering challenges. With the economy in a death spiral, he wisely made his finance minister his first appointment, selecting Ishaq Dar. Mr. Dar held that job twice in the 1990s. Mr. Sharif is a fiscal conservative who favors free-market economics. His tasks are to reduce a bloated public sector, end energy shortages and persuade Pakistanis to pay taxes, without which the government cannot hope to stabilize the economy.
Making peace and fostering trade with India would advance that goal. Mr. Sharif’s decision to invite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India to his inauguration was an inspired beginning. But a major obstacle to effective civilian rule in Pakistan and peace with India, has been the military, which ousted Mr. Sharif in 1999. Mr. Sharif returned from exile in 2007 to build a new political movement. The Army has since withdrawn from an overt political role, yet it remains a potent force.
Repairing badly damaged relations with the United States will be another major test. Mr. Sharif has major differences with the American government, including his tendency to coddle terrorist groups and his opposition to drone strikes, but he has worked with the United States in the past and should try again. President Obama should invite Mr. Sharif to make an early visit to the White House.
Ultimately, the success of democracies and the politicians they produce depend on good […]

By ALI HUSSAIN, Business Recorder

The international election observers mission of National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has described the requirement for separate registration of voters, including the Ahmadis, as inconsistent with the commitments provided under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

The mission also described the voting closing and counting procedure as chaotic and nontransparent, besides noting other irregularities in its preliminary report on the country’s 2013 general elections, presented by chief of the NDI-ANFREL observers’ mission, Kjell Magne Bondevik along other team members during a press conference here on Monday.

The observers noted a calm and peaceful environment in most polling stations and the voters demonstrated enthusiasm and dedication, sometimes patiently enduring long waiting times, harsh weather conditions, and overcrowding. About the turnout, the report said that the observers generally assessed the turnout to be high, varied widely among visited polling stations. Opening voting and closing procedures were mostly followed though some disorganisation and lack of consistency was noted. Observers reported overcrowding in multiple locations across the country.

It said continuation of campaign activities on election day was observed in almost all polling locations visited by the observers. Instances of voters and polling personnel experiencing difficulties in finding voters’ names on the electoral rolls was observed in the majority of the areas, it added.

NDI-ANFREL observers visited more than 250 polling locations and followed opening, voting, closing, and counting procedures. Most polling stations opened on time or with less than half an hour delay, however, it noted significant delays in Hyderabad, Karachi, and Lahore because of the late arrival of essential election materials or polling personnel.

Some of the delays were attributed to poll workers being late or disorganised, including the areas of […]

By ANNABEL SYMINGTON, The Wall Street Journal

ISLAMABAD—International election observers on Monday said Pakistan’s elections were a success and a step forward for the country, despite accusations by losing politicians of vote-rigging in many areas.

The preliminary findings by the two largest observer missions—the European Union Election Observation Mission and the joint mission of the National Democratic Institute in the U.S. and the Asian Network for Free Elections—also applauded the high voter turnout, despite high levels of violence. Some 64 people were killed on election day Saturday.

Michael Gahler, chief observer of the EU mission, described the election, which was won by the conservative Pakistan Muslim League…

Read more online at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324031404578481131113653340.html