FAFEN’s Constituency Long-Term Observers (CLTOs) reported one incident of action against women voters and five incidents against female candidates. Other observed violations include use of loudspeakers (512 instances), rallies causing inconvenience (227), illegal voter inducement (171), weapons display (130), and aerial firing/fireworks (40).

Over 70.8 % of the observed Code of Conduct violations were visual campaign materials exceeding allowable sizes, including banners, hoardings, leaflets and posters (4,324). Other violations noted were wall chalking/graffiti (662, or 10.8 %). These two categories constitute over three-fourths (4,986 or 81.6 %) of the observed violations.

Violations were committed by 28 political parties and independent candidates. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) committed over one-third of the violations (1,640, or 26.8%), followed by independent candidates (1,162 or 19.04%), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) (1,031, or 16.89%), Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) (909, or 14.89 %), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) (364, or 5.96%) and Pakistan Muslim League (340 or 5.57 %).

Most recorded violations were in Punjab (5,088 cases, or 83.4%), followed by Sindh (439 or 7.2%), KP (433 or 7.1%), Balochistan (72 cases), FATA (64) and ICT (6).

Pre-Election Update 42 is based on reports gathered from 213 constituencies – 124 in Punjab, 40 in Sindh, 29 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 12 in Balochistan,  seven in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and one in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

FAFEN observers recorded 30 violations of the ECP Code of Conduct related to speech tending to arouse controversy. A total of 27 such cases were reported in Punjab, and three in Sindh. PML-N candidates committed 10 violations, followed by PPPP (8), PTI (7), independent candidates (3), and PML and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) (one each).

PML-N candidates in NA-157 (Khanewal, Punjab) targeted their political opponents in two gatherings over their policies during the past regime and termed them incompetent.  Candidates/workers of PML-N in NA-160 (Sahiwal, Punjab), NA-67 and NA-68 (Sargodha, Punjab), NA-157 and NA-159 (Khanewal, Punjab), NA-150 (Multan, Punjab) and NA-93 (Toba Tek Singh, Punjab) also made inflammatory speeches against their political rivals.

PPPP candidates in NA-114 (Sialkot, Punjab), NA-149 and NA-150 (Multan, Punjab), NA-159 (Khanewal, Punjab), NA-183 (Bahawalpur, Punjab), NA-208 (Jacobabad, Sindh) criticized their political opponents and some used derogatory remarks against them.

A PTI candidate in NA-208 (Jacobabad, Sindh) reportedly termed his opponent a traitor and held him responsible for the present situation in the country. In various gatherings at NA-188 and NA-189 (Bahawalnagar, Punjab), PTI candidates accused their political rivals of failure to fulfill the people’s mandate. In NA-117 (Narowal, Punjab), a PTI candidate reportedly termed his political opponent corrupt as did another PTI candidate in NA-159 (Khanewal, Punjab).

An independent candidate at NA-188 (Bahawalnagar, Punjab) criticized his political opponent in a gathering, while an ethnic group was criticized by supporters of an independent candidate in another gathering in this constituency. In NA-109 (Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab), an independent candidate reportedly delivered an anti-democratic speech against his opponents.

A PML candidate in NA-191 (Bahawalnagar, Punjab) made an inflammatory speech against his political rivals, and the same was done by the workers of BNP-M during a rally in NA-138 (Lahore, Punjab).

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The election officials who were interviewed between April 23 and 30, 2013 reportedly held a total of 72 meetings with election stakeholders.

Free and Fair Election Network’s (FAFEN) District and Constituency Long-Term Observers (DLTOs and CLTOs) deployed across the country conducted these interviews in 23 constituencies of 15 districts in Punjab, 12 constituencies of eight districts in Sindh, nine constituencies in eight districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and two constituencies each in two districts of Balochistan and two Agencies of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

According to FAFEN observers, election officials in 48 constituencies and 35 districts reported holding 12 meetings (17%) with other election officials and 16 meetings (22%) with other government officials. Eight meetings (11%) were held with security officials. Another one-third of meetings (23, or 32%) were held with candidates or political party representatives. Five meetings each (7%) were with international observer groups and media representatives.  Three meetings (4%) were held with Pakistani civil society organizations.

In 23 Punjab constituencies of 15 districts, election officials reported holding 29 meetings with stakeholders between April 23 and 30, 2013.

Two meetings (7%) were with other election officials and eight meetings (28%) were with other government officials. Only four reported meetings (14%) were held with security officials, and only five meetings (17%) were with candidates or political party representatives.  Another five meetings were with international observer groups, three (10%) were with media, and two (7%) with civil society organizations.

FAFEN observers interviewed election officials in 12 constituencies of eight districts of Sindh, where 23 meetings were held with various election stakeholders.

Half of election officials’ meetings in Sindh (11, or 48%) were held with other election officials (6 meetings, or 26%) and other government officials (5 meetings, or 22%). Only two meetings (9%) were with security officials. One-third of meetings (8, or 35%) were with candidates or political party representatives. One meeting (4%) each was held with media and civil society organizations. No election officials in Sindh reported meeting international observer groups.

In nine constituencies of eight districts of KP, election officials reported holding 13 meetings with various election stakeholders.

The election officials in KP reported holding five meetings (38%) with government officials, including four (31%) with other election officials. Only one meeting (8%) was reported with security officials. More than half of reported meetings (7, or 54%) were with candidates or political party representatives. No meetings were reported with media, international observers or Pakistani civil society.

Election officials in two constituencies of Balochistan held one meeting with other government officials and one with candidates or political party representatives. Election officials in two constituencies of two FATA Agencies reported holding five meetings with stakeholders. Two meetings were held with candidates or political party representatives, and one each was held with other government officials, security officials, and media.

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The highest number of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) code violations were recorded at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rallies (408 violations in 376 rallies), followed by Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) with 341 violations in 353 rallies. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) violated the ECP code 223 times in 218 rallies.

Speakers at one-quarter of rallies (366, or 24.5%) violated various Code provisions designed to restrict inflammatory, insulting or misleading speech. Most rallies violated one or more provisions of the ECP Code.

FAFEN has deployed CLTOs in every National Assembly (NA) constituency across the country to observe all electoral processes, including election campaigning. This pre-election update is based on CLTO reports about political rallies held between April 16 and May 5, 2013.

Speakers in 281 rallies (18.8%) made promises of specific local development schemes in their respective constituencies, while speakers in 77 rallies (5.2%) made personal attacks on their opponents. Speakers in five rallies asked their supporters not to vote for their opponents based on their caste. Another two speakers asked voters not to vote for their opponents based on their ethnicities, and one speaker used religion in campaigning.

ECP press releases on March 22 and April 6 indicate that it “has appointed more than 400 monitoring teams across the country to monitor political activities in General Election 2013.”  Based on its observations, FAFEN recommends that the ECP monitoring teams should respond to violations identified by FAFEN pre-election observers in each National Assembly constituency as well as reliable information gathered by other partisan and non-partisan sources.

The ECP should communicate all actions taken against violators of the Code of Conduct to the media and the public.

According to the update, a total of 1,166 rallies (78%) were held at places not publicly notified by the district administration, and at least 236 rallies caused inconvenience to the public.  As many as 92 (6%) rallies were held outside the residences of opponents, and FAFEN observers witnessed fireworks at 40 rallies.

Of the 1,495 observed rallies, 1,121 (75%) were in 80 Punjab constituencies, for an average of 14 per constituency.  Another 263 rallies (17.5%) were in 28 constituencies of Sindh, or 9.4 per constituency. Observers reported 43 rallies (2.9%) in 12 constituencies of Balochistan, or about 3.6 per constituency, and 45 rallies (3%) in 15 constituencies of KP, for an average of 3 per constituency.  Another 23 rallies (1.5%) were held in eight constituencies of FATA, or on average 2.9 per constituency.

Speakers at one-quarter of rallies (366, or 24.5%) violated various Code provisions designed to restrict inflammatory, insulting or misleading speech.

According to FAFEN observers, 1,166 campaign rallies were unauthorized, i.e. they were held at locations not notified to the public by the district administration. Two hundred and thirty-six (236) rallies disrupted traffic or caused inconvenience to the public, while 92 rallies were held outside the residences of opponents/candidates/political leaders.  FAFEN observers reported fireworks at 40 rallies.

Independent candidates committed 187 violations in 173 rallies, followed by Pakistan Muslim League (PML) with 78 violations in 67 rallies, and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) with 62 violations in 58 rallies. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had 33 violations in 37 rallies, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) 24 violations in 27 rallies, National Peoples Party (NPP) 22 violations in 33 rallies, and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) 13 violations in 17 rallies.

Observers also noted Pakistan Peoples Party-Shaheed Bhutto (PPP-SB) with eight violations in nine rallies, Sunni Tehreek (ST) eight violations in as many rallies, Pakistan Peoples Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) seven violations in four rallies, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) six violations in five rallies, and Awami National Party (ANP) six violations in as many rallies.

Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) had three violations in five rallies, National Party (NP) committed three violations in three rallies, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) three violations in two rallies, and Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees (MJAH) three violations in two rallies.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Tehreek-e-Jafaria had two violations each in as many rallies.  Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Sami (JUI-S) had one violation each in two rallies, while Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) had one violation in one rally. FAFEN observers could not identify the political affiliation of people conducting another 83 rallies in which 89 violations were committed.

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According to data collected by FAFEN observers, Returning Officers (ROs) in 164 National Assembly constituencies received a total of 485 complaints during the reporting week, or about three complaints per constituency on average. Out of these, two-thirds (328, or 67.6%) were resolved, while one-third (157, or 32.4%) were pending when the data was collected. Almost one-half of pre-election complaints received by ROs in KP (45.6%) and one-third of those received in Punjab (31.5%) remained unresolved.

In addition to complaints received by the ROs, observers reported 853 complaints filed with District Returning Officers (DROs) in 55 districts, or an average of 14.5 complaints per district. The DROs addressed three-quarters of complaints (629, or 73.7%), while the remaining quarter (224, or 26.3%) remained unresolved. Almost one-third of complaints in Sindh (30.6%) were still pending. No complaints were received by the DROs in four reporting Agencies in FATA.

FAFEN observers reported that District Election Commissioners (DECs) in 59 districts received 138 complaints during the reporting week, or an average of 2.3 complaints per district. The DECs resolved two-thirds of complaints (92, or 66.7%), while the remaining one-third (46, or 33.3%) were yet to be resolved. In KP, most complaints (19 out of 21, or 90.5%) were still pending.

FAFEN recommendations that ROs, DROS and DECs should strive to address all pre-election complaints before Election Day, especially those that may have significant implications for the elections and ECP mechanisms for receiving and addressing both pre-election complaints and post-election disputes should be made more clear, accessible and transparent. All DECs, DROs and ROs should share information with election observers and other stakeholders about the process and status of complaint resolution.

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Observers reported two actions against women voters and 41 instances of illegal voter inducement.  Other observed violations include weapons display (41 instances), rallies causing inconvenience (39), aerial firing/fireworks (18), and use of loudspeakers (63 instances).

Half of the observed Code of Conduct violations were visual campaign materials exceeding allowable sizes, including banners, hoardings, leaflets and posters (414, or 49.9%).  Other violations noted were wall chalking/graffiti (202, or 24.3%). These two categories constitute three-fourths (616, or 74.2%) of observed violations.

Violations were committed by 20 political parties and independent candidates. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) committed almost one-third of the violations (244, or 29.3%), followed by almost one-fifth by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) (154, or 18.5%), Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) (144, or 17.3 %), independent candidates (96, or 11.5%) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) (42, or 5.1%).

Almost three-quarter of violations were reported in Punjab (614, or 73.9%), followed by Sindh (125, or 15.1%) and KP (80 or 9.6%). Only eight Code violations (0.96%) were reported from FATA and three (0.3 %) in Balochistan.

The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has deployed Constituency Long Term Observers (CLTOs) in every National Assembly constituency across the country to observe the pre-election campaign period. These CLTOs report violations of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, among other topics.

This update is based on reports gathered by CLTOs between April 20 and 26, 2013, from 131 constituencies – 86 in Punjab, 22 in Sindh, 16 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), four in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and three in Balochistan.

The ECP has appointed more than 400 monitoring teams across the country to monitor political activities in General Election 2013.  Based on its observations of violations around the country of the ECP Code of Conduct, FAFEN recommends that the ECP monitoring teams should respond to violations identified by FAFEN pre-election observers in each National Assembly constituency as well as reliable information gathered by other partisan and non-partisan sources.

The ECP should communicate all enforcement actions taken against violators to the media and the public.

FAFEN observers recorded 10 violations of the ECP Code of Conduct related to speech tending to arouse controversy or personal criticism of other candidates. Six of such cases were reported in Punjab, three in KP and one in Sindh. Violators included three PTI candidates, two independent candidates and one JI candidate. Two violations were committed by PML-N workers, one jointly by PPPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and one by unidentified persons.

Three PTI candidates in NA-35 (Malakand, KP), NA-153 (Multan, Punjab) and NA-181 (Layyah, Punjab) delivered inflammatory speeches against their opponents, as did two independent candidates in NA-188 (Bahawalnagar, Punjab) and NA-107 (Gujrat, Punjab) and a JI candidate in NA-35 (Malakand Protected Area, KP).

Workers of a PML-N candidate accused their opponents in NA-27 (Lakki Marwat, Punjab) of siding with terrorists during inflammatory speeches, while party workers in NA-89 (Jhang, Punjab) dubbed their opponents quarrelsome and rigid.

A female candidate of MQM was allegedly mocked/harassed in NA-238 (Thatta, Sindh) by unidentified motorcyclists, while a PTI candidate in NA-153 (Multan, Punjab) was reportedly harassed by PPPP and MQM workers.

FAFEN observers reported two incidents of actions against women voters in Punjab, both by PML-N party workers or candidates. Workers of PML-N in NA-83 (Faisalabad) allegedly plan to bar women from voting under a secret understanding between candidates/political parties and community elders.  A PML-N candidate in NA-157 (PP-215, Khanewal) allegedly bribed women not to participate in a meeting of his political opponent and warned them of dire consequences if they voted for his opponent.

FAFEN observers reported 41 incidents – 30 in Punjab,  six in KP, four in Sindh and one in Balochistan  – in which candidates allegedly tried to attract voters by distributing money, food or other commodities and/or by promising jobs or specific development schemes.  Violators included 12 PPPP candidates, 11 PML-N candidates, eight independent candidates, six PTI candidates, two Pakistan Muslim League (PML) candidates and one candidate each of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islami-Fazal ur Rehman (JUI-F) and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ).

FAFEN observers reported 41 incidents – 21 in Punjab, 11 in Sindh and 9 in KP – in which candidate supporters or party workers displayed weapons at public places.  PML-N had the most violations with 12 instances, followed by PPPP (8), ANP and PML (4 each), JUI-F (3), PTI and independent candidates (2 each), and ASWJ, MQM, National Peoples Party (NPP), Pakistan Awami Tehreek, PML-Functional (PML-F), PPP-Shaheed Bhutto (PPP-SB) (1 each).

PML-N workers were seen carrying guns in 11 gatherings in Punjab (NA-52, NA-65, NA-71, NA-75, NA-82, NA-85, NA-89, NA-106 and NA-159) and one in Sindh (NA-212). PPPP workers were seen with weapons at six gatherings in Sindh (NA-211, NA-212, NA-217, NA-221 and NA-236), one in Punjab (NA-109) and one in KP (NA-5).

Awami National Party (ANP) workers were seen carrying weapons in four gatherings in KP (NA-12, NA-13, NA-35) while PML supporters were seen with weapons in four gatherings in NA-104 (Gujrat, Punjab).  Workers of JUI-F were seen with weapons in NA-27 (Lakki Marwat) and PTI supporters in NA-71(Mianwali) and NA-65 (Sargodha), all in Punjab.

In NA-168 (Vehari, Punjab), supporters of independent candidates were seen carrying weapons.  The supporters of an independent candidate in NA-26 (Bannu, KP) were also observed with weapons.

In Sindh, PPP-SB and NPP workers were seen carrying weapons in NA-211 (Naushero Feroze), as were MQM workers in NA-238 (Thatta).  In Punjab, Pakistan Awami Tehreek workers in NA-116 (Narowal) and ASWJ workers in NA-90 (Jhang) were seen with weapons.

PPPP supporters were seen setting off firecrackers at two rallies in NA-145, NA-146 (Okara, Punjab) and also outside party offices in NA-51 and NA-50 (Rawalpindi, Punjab). Fireworks were seen at a PML-N rally in NA-167 (Vehari, Punjab) while supporters of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) set off firecrackers in NA-269 (Khuzdar).

FAFEN observers recorded 11 instances of aerial firing during the observation period:  four by MQM in Sindh (NA-219, NA-220, NA-223); three by PML-N in Punjab (NA-117, NA-71 and NA-146); two by independent candidates in NA-74 (Punjab) and NA-242 (Sindh) and one each by PTI in Punjab (NA-71) and PPPP supporters/workers in Punjab (NA-146).

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The Constituency Long-Term Observers (CLTOs) saw 14 officials having private meetings with political candidates in seven constituencies, while one official was seen allowing a candidate to use official resources. In addition, FAFEN observers saw a party flag put up at a public official’s residence and another flag on a vehicle belonging to a government servant.

FAFEN Pre-Election Update 37 highlights the use of state resources by political parties for election campaigns. It has been prepared from information gathered by the Free and Fair Election Network’s (FAFEN) Constituency Long-Term Observers (CLTOs) from April 1 to April 23, 2013.

FAFEN observers also reported seeing 74 campaign materials (banners, posters, stickers, wall chalking, panaflexes and flags) on the premises of government buildings. PML-N had the highest incidence (24) of campaign material displayed on state buildings, followed by independent candidates (19), Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (10), Awami National Party (seven), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (six), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (four), Jamaat-e-Islami (three) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (one). The CLTOs reported the initiation of 38 development schemes by political leaders.

FAFEN recommends that the ECP should take action against parties and candidates violating the Code of Conduct and ensure no political campaign material is there at any government office or public place.

The ECP should ensure that government officials do not take part in the campaign of any party or candidate and action must be taken against violators.

Political parties and citizens should observe public offices across the country and report any campaigning at public offices.

FAFEN’s CLTOs also observed the participation of government officials in political activities, the announcement of development schemes, and use of government vehicles in political campaigns. The CLTOs observed the government officials’ participation in political campaigns in 25 constituencies, government buildings in 30 constituencies, and development schemes in 18 constituencies.

Most of the government officials (15) were seen seeking votes for PML-N candidates, followed by 11 officials doing so for independent candidates, five officials for PTI candidates, two for PPP and one for JUI-F candidate. FAFEN observers could not identify the party affiliation of officials seeking votes for candidates in two instances.

The majority (22) of the 36 officials seeking votes for candidates belonged to the Education Department. They included schoolteachers and principals, who play an influential role in securing a vote bank in rural areas. The observer in Multan saw EDO Education seeking votes for a PML-N candidate, while a Deputy District Education Officer was seen seeking votes for an independent candidate in Faisalabad.

In addition to education officials, the EDO Health in Kurram Agency was seen seeking votes for a JUI-F candidate while a police inspector was observed doing so for a PML-N candidate in Narowal.

Similarly, an AJK minister was also seen seeking votes for a PML-N candidate in Narowal, while two revenue officers were seen doing so for an independent candidate in Bhakkar.

FAFEN observers witnessed a PPPP candidate meeting a police official, two health officials and five education officials in Jamshoro, and also observed a meeting between a JUI-F candidate and EDO Health in Kurram Agency. In addition, the observers saw the District Coordination Officer (DCO) in Shaheed Benazirabad having a private meeting with a PPPP candidate, while an Assistant Commissioner was seen having a meeting with a leader of Balochistan National Party-Mengal in Kech-cum-Gwadar. Moreover, an official belonging to the Irrigation Department was also seen having a private meeting with a PML-F candidate in Matiari-cum-Hyderabad.

FAFEN observers saw a total of 17 government officials participating in political rallies, most of whom belonged to the Education Department. The observers reported seeing the EDOs (Education) at PPPP rallies in Jamshoro and Mirpurkhas-cum-Umerkot, while another EDO Education was seen at a JUI-F candidate’s rally in Dera Ismail Khan-cum-Tank. The observer in NA-213 (Shaheed Benazirabad-I) saw the EDO Works and Services at a PPPP rally, while the observer in NA-72 (Mianwali-II) reported seeing a police constable at a PTI rally.

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The data was gathered by Free and Fair Election Network’s District and Constituency Long-Term Observers (DLTOs and CLTOs) across the country during the third week of the ongoing month.

Returning Officers in 197 constituencies reported receiving 477 complaints during the observation period, or 2.4 complaints per constituency on average. ROs resolved three-fifths of these complaints (283, or 59.3%), while 194 (40.7%) were still pending at the time data was gathered.

A total of 121 ROs in Punjab reported receiving 218 complaints (1.8 per constituency), while 28 ROs in KP received 158 complaints (5.6 per constituency), followed by 27 ROs in Sindh with 89 complaints (3.3 per constituency) and 11 in FATA with 12 complaints (1.1 per constituency). Ten ROs in Balochistan received no complaints. The ROs in Punjab had the lowest ratio of resolved complaints, with half still pending (108 out of 218, 49.5%).

Another 147 complaints were received by DROs during the period in 39 districts. Of these 147 complaints, 85 (57.8%) were received by 17 DROs in KP (5 per district, on average), followed by 61 in 18 Punjab districts (3.4 each) and one complaint in one FATA agency, with four agency DROs reporting no complaints.

Less than half (65 out of 147, or 44.2%) of the complaints filed with DROs were reportedly resolved, while the remaining complaints (82, or 55.8%) were still pending. DROs in KP were unable to address most of the complaints they received, with 73 out of 85 still pending (88.9%).

DECs in 39 reporting districts received 123 complaints between April 16 and 22, 2013. Of these, 13 DECs in Punjab received 62 complaints (50.4%; 4.8 per district); 12 DECs in KP received 47 complaints (38.2%; 3.9 per district) and seven DECs in FATA received 14 complaints (11.4%; 2 per Agency).

More than four-fifths (99, or 80.5%) of the 123 complaints registered with DECs were resolved, while the remaining one-fifths (24, or 19.6%) were still pending. DECs in Punjab resolved the highest percentage of complaints (52 out of 62, or 83.9%), with 10 remaining (16.1%).

FAFEN offers the following recommendations about election complaint handling:

1. ECP mechanisms for receiving and addressing both pre-election complaints and post-election disputes should be made as clear and accessible as possible.

2. All DECs, DROs and ROs should share as much information as possible with election stakeholders about complaints and the process and status of complaint resolution.

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The observed constituencies comprise 97 in Punjab, 26 in Sindh, 20 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), five in Balochistan and two each in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Half of the observed Code of Conduct violations were visual campaign materials exceeding allowable sizes, including banners/panaflexes, hoardings/billboards, leaflets/handbills and posters (417, or 52.2%).  One-quarter of violations noted were banned wall chalking/graffiti (201, or 25.1%). Together these two categories constituted three-fourths (618, or 77.3%) of the 799 violations recorded by FAFEN observers.

The remaining 181 violations consist of the use of loudspeakers (68 instances), illegal voter inducement (36 instances), weapons display (30 instances), rallies causing inconvenience (24), aerial firing/fireworks (12), and speech arousing controversy or abusing other candidates (11).

Violations were committed by 19 political parties and independent candidates. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) had the highest number at 226 (28.3%), followed by independent candidates (148, or 18.5%), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) (142, or 17.8%), Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) (118 or 14.8 %) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) (59, or 7.4%).

The ECP press releases on 22 March and 6 April 2013 indicate that ECP “has appointed more than 400 monitoring teams across the country to monitor political activities in General Elections-2013.” Based on its observations of violations around the country of the ECP Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates, FAFEN recommends the following:

1. ECP monitoring teams should respond to violations identified by FAFEN pre-election observers in each National Assembly constituency as well as reliable information gathered by other partisan and non-partisan sources.
2. ECP should communicate all actions taken against violators to the media and the public.

In all, 618 instances of illegal visual campaign material were reported across the country between April 11 and 19. The highest number of violations was reported from Punjab (538) followed by Sindh (49), KP (29), and one each in Balochistan and FATA.

Oversized banners/panaflexes were seen at 301 places (48.7%). Parties’ and candidates’ wall chalking/graffiti were seen at 201 locations (32.5%), despite a blanket ban. FAFEN observers also noted posters above the allowed size at 64 locations (10.4%), hoardings/billboards at 49 locations (7.9%) and leaflets/handbills larger than the allowed dimensions at three locations (0.48%).

PML-N committed almost one-third of the violations (179, or 29%), followed by PTI with almost one-fifth (114, or 18.4%), independent candidates (104 or 16.8%), PPPP (97, or 15.7%), and JI (45, or 7.3%).

Other parties with visual materials that violated the ECP Code include Pakistan Muslim League (PML) (17 instances), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) (14), PML-Functional (PML-F) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islami Fazal ur Rehman (JUI-F) (10 each), Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) (7), Sunni Tehreek (6), Awami National Party (ANP) (5), Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) (3), PPP-Shaheed Bhutto (2), and Balochistan National Party-Awami (BNP-A), Awami Workers Party, Awami Tehreek, Tehreek-e-Jafaria and Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP)(1 each).

Wall chalking was observed at 201 places: 166 in Punjab, 19 in Sindh and 16 in KP. Candidates belonging to PTI had the most violations (51), followed by PML-N (50), independent candidates (33), PPPP (32), JI (21), MQM (5), ASWJ (3), PML (2), and one each by ANP, JSQM, JUI-F and JWP. Thirty-two (32) of these violations were on government property and 169 on private property.

FAFEN observers noted 49 hoardings larger than the ECP’s allowed 3×5 feet size: 43 in Punjab and three each in Sindh and KP. Candidates belonging to PML-N had the highest number of violations at 18, followed by PTI (10), independent candidates (8), PPPP (5), JI (2), PML (2), and ANP, MQM, PML-F and ASWJ with one each.  In all, 34 of these violations were on private and 15 on government properties.

FAFEN observers found 64 instances in which campaign posters violated ECP size specifications: 52 in Punjab, eight in Sindh and four in KP. The most violations in this category were by PML-N (16); followed by PTI (13); independent candidates (12); PPPP (11); JI and JUI-F (3 each); JSQM and PPPSB (2 each); and MQM and BNP-A (1 each). These violations included 54 on government property and 10 on private property.

The maximum size for leaflets/handbills allowed by the ECP in its Code of Conduct is 9×6 inches.  FAFEN observers reported one violation in this category by PML-N in Punjab, and one each by PPPP and MQM in Sindh.

FAFEN observers recorded 11 violations of the ECP Code of Conduct related to speech and actions tending to arouse controversy or abusing opposing candidates.  Seven cases were in Punjab, two in Sindh, and two in KP.  Violators included two PML-N candidates, two independent candidates, and one candidate each representing JI, PPPP, PML, JUI-F, and PML-F.

Two female candidates were the targets of harassment or abuse.  In Bhakkar (NA-73, Punjab), an independent female candidate alleged that she and her family were being harassed, and that an unidentified person entered their house but escaped.  In Layyah (NA-182, Punjab), a female MQM candidate alleged that one of her opponents was harassing her by using abusive language.

Seven candidates of six political parties made inflammatory speeches against their opponents.  Two PML-N candidates in NA-14 (Kohat, KP) and NA-117 (Narowal, Punjab) made such speeches against other candidates, as did one JI candidate in NA-12 (Swabi, KP), PPPP candidate in NA-189 (Bahawalnagar, Punjab), PML candidate in NA-191 (Bahawalnagar), and JUI-F and PML-F candidates in NA-201 (Ghotki, Sindh).

Two independent candidates in NA-73 (Bhakkar) and NA-75 (Faisalabad, Punjab) made speeches tending to arouse sectarian or other controversy or conflict.  In addition, the JI candidate in NA-12 (Swabi, KP) urged people to “vote for Islam” in the upcoming elections, which is reportedly also banned by ECP.

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Of the 49 rallies, 34 were held in 17 constituencies of Punjab, six in five constituencies of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP), three in as many constituencies of Sindh, two in as many constituencies of Balochistan, three in two constituencies of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and one in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Most observed rallies (45, or 85.7%) violated the ECP Code in one or more respects.  Four rallies were held outside the residence of opponents/candidates/political leaders. Twelve rallies caused inconvenience to people and traffic jams, and 33 rallies were held at un-notified locations.

The highest number of violations of the ECP Code of Conduct was observed at the rallies of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with 11 violations during nine rallies, and Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), with 11 violations in 10 rallies.  Ten rallies of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had as many violations, followed by eight violations by independent candidates in 11 rallies.

FAFEN has deployed Constituency Long-Term Observers (CLTOs) in every NA constituency across the country to observe all electoral processes, including election campaigning. This Pre-Election Update is based on CLTO reports about political rallies held between April 2 and 15, 2013.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates is intended to ensure a level playing field for all parties and candidates, and to maintain public security and convenience during the campaign period.

The ECP press releases on March 22 and April 6 indicate that it “has appointed more than 400 monitoring teams across the country to monitor political activities in General Election 2013.” Based on observations, FAFEN recommends the following:

1. ECP monitoring teams should respond to violations identified by FAFEN pre-election observers in each National Assembly constituency as well as reliable information gathered by other partisan and non-partisan sources.
2. ECP should communicate all actions taken against violators of the Code of Conduct to the media and the public.

According to FAFEN observers, 33 campaign rallies were held at locations not notified to the public by the district administration. Twelve rallies caused inconvenience to the public or traffic jams. Four rallies were held outside the residence of opponents/candidates/political leaders.

At least seven rallies violated more than one of these provisions of the ECP Code.  Seven rallies (14.3%) did not violate the ECP Code. Most observed rallies (42, or 85.7%) violated the ECP Code in one or more respects.

Among the nine observed PTI campaign rallies, eight rallies were held at un-notified places and three caused inconvenience to the public and traffic.

Observers of 10 PPPP rallies noted six that were held at un-notified places. One rally was outside the residence of opponents/candidates/political leaders, and four caused inconvenience to the public.

Ten rallies of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had as many violations.  Eight rallies were held at un-notified places and two caused inconvenience to the public.

Independent candidates held 11 rallies committing eight violations including seven being held at un-notified places and one causing inconvenience to people.

Four violations were noted at two rallies of Pakistan Muslim League (PML). PML organized two rallies in NA-104 and both were held at un-notified places and outside the residence of an opponent/candidate/political leader.

Observers noted two violations during one rally in NA-268 of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazalur Rehman (JUI-F) that was held outside an opponent’s residence and at a place not notified by the district administration.

Two violations were witnessed during a rally of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Samiul Haq (JUI-S) that was held at an un-notified place and caused inconvenience to the public.

During one rally of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), one violation was observed.  ASWJ organized a rally in NA-22 that caused inconvenience to the public.

No violations were observed in two rallies of Awami National Party (ANP) in NA-28 and NA-37. Observers also did not report any violations at one rally of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in NA-259 or one rally of Awami Workers Party (AWP) in NA-28.

For complete report, click here 

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Violations committed by political parties and independent candidates include one-third by Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) (183, or 35.7%), followed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) (96, or 18.8 %), Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) (75, or 14.6%), and independent candidates (74 or 14.4 %).

Most violations were in Punjab (486, or 94.9%), followed by KP (15), Sindh and Balochistan (4 each), FATA (2) and Islamabad (1).

Visual campaign materials exceeding allowable sizes – especially oversized banners/panaflexes (47%) and banned wall chalking/graffiti (46%) – constituted most (91.2%) of the 512 violations recorded by FAFEN observers.

Other violations included two abuses against opposing candidates, 12 cases of illegal inducements to voters, and 12 violations of Code Article 29 on weapons and fireworks.

This update is based on reports gathered from a total of 77 constituencies – 62 constituencies in Punjab, five in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), four in Balochistan, three in Sindh, two in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and one in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has deployed Constituency Long Term Observers (CLTOs) in every National Assembly constituency across the country to observe the pre-election campaign period. CLTOs report violations of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates, among other topics.

The ECP press releases on 22 March and 6 April 2013 indicate that ECP “has appointed more than 400 monitoring teams across the country to monitor political activities in General Elections-2013.”  Based on its observations of violations around the country of the ECP Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates, FAFEN recommends the following:

1. ECP monitoring teams should respond to violations identified by FAFEN pre-election observers in each National Assembly constituency as well as reliable information gathered by other partisan and non-partisan sources.
2. ECP should communicate all actions taken against violators of its Code of Conduct to the media and the public.

According to the update, the disproportionate number of violations recorded in Punjab reflects both vigorous campaigning in the province and better reporting from the FAFEN observers in 62 Punjab constituencies. It may also be related to recent security threats and violence against election candidates and their campaigns in other parts of the country.

Observers recorded 467 visual campaign material violations (91.2 %) during the 10 days of observation. The remaining 45 violations include the use of loudspeakers (16 instances), illegal inducements to voters (12 instances), display of weapons (seven instances), aerial firing and fireworks (five instances), rallies causing public inconvenience (three instances), and abuse against opposing candidates (two instances).

In all, 467 incidents of illegal visual campaign material were reported across the country between April 1 and 10.  The highest number of violations were reported from Punjab (451), followed by KP (12), Balochistan (3) and Sindh (1).

Oversized banners/panaflexes were seen at 220 places (47%).  Parties’ and candidates’ graffiti were seen at 215 locations (46%), despite a blanket ban. FAFEN observers also noted oversized hoardings/billboards at 16 locations (3.5%) and posters at 16 locations (3.5%).

More than one-third of the observed violations were by PML-N (169 instances, or 36%), about one-fifth were by PTI (90, or 19%), followed by PPPP (70, or 15%) and independent candidates (64, or 14%).

Other violations were by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) (24) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML) (18).  The remaining were by Sunni Tehreek and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) (9 each), Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F) (5), two each by Awami National Party (ANP), Tehreek-e-Jafaria and Ahle Sunnat Waljamat, and one each by Awami Workers Party, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees.

Candidates belonging to PML-N had the highest number of violations at 81, followed by PTI (35), PPPP (30), independent candidates (29), PML (15), MQM (nine), Sunni Tehreek (eight), JI (six), Ahle Sunnat Waljamat (2), Tehreek-e-Jafaria (2) and one each by PAT, AWP and ANP.

Wall chalking was observed at 215 places: 212 in Punjab, two in KP and one in Sindh. Candidates belonging to PML-N again had the most violations (77), followed by PTI (45), PPPP (40), independent candidates (31), JI (15), JUI-F and PML (2 each), ANP and ST (1 each). Most examples (191) were on private property, and 24 on government property.

For complete report, click here 

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