Commonwealth Expert Team Recommends Assistance to Improve Transparency and Confidence in Pakistan Local Bodies Elections
16 September 2005
Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon today welcomed the report of the Commonwealth Expert Team, which was present for the Local Bodies Elections in Pakistan, held on 18 and 25 August 2005. The Team was jointly organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.
The Team identified areas where improvements to the electoral process and political environment in Pakistan could be made. It found that although the polls were meant to be held on a non-party basis the political parties in fact played a central role in the electoral process. The Team recommended that political parties should be officially integrated into the local government electoral process for the next elections. It also highlighted the need for capacity building in the Election Commission. The Team found that a significant number of women in certain provinces were prevented from contesting and voting in the elections. This issue was a prominent one during the campaign.
Mr McKinnon said: "I welcome the Team's report. I hope that the Government and the Election Commission of Pakistan will give serious consideration to its recommendations on improving the political atmosphere and the process and conduct of Local Bodies Elections so as to inspire confidence in the electoral system. The Commonwealth stands ready to assist where needed."
Note to Editors:
The Team was asked by the Commonwealth Secretary-General to observe preparations for the elections, the polling, counting and results process and the overall electoral environment. The decision to send the Commonwealth Expert Team followed an invitation from the Pakistan Election Commission. The members of the Expert Team began work on 11-13 August 2005 and remained in Pakistan until 31 August 2005. The Secretary-General has sent their report to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Acting Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, the main political parties and Commonwealth Governments.
The full text of the Report of the Expert Team is available on the Commonwealth Secretariat website, http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=145767.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General had sent Commonwealth Observer Groups for the 1997 General Election and the 2002 National and Provincial Elections in Pakistan.
The members of the Expert Team were:
Justice Anastasia Msosa SC (Chair)
Chair
Malawi Electoral Commission
Malawi
Zulkefli bin Haji Kamaruzzaman
Former State Elections Officer
Malaysia
Councillor A W Mohamed Arshad
Colombo Municipal Council
Sri Lanka
Alison Sutherland
Legal Adviser
Local Government Association
United Kingdom
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