Only 6,020 (six percent) of the 84,339 registered female voters exercised their right to vote in the by-election held on June 26, 2022. Of 28 female polling stations, 22 recorded less than 10 percent turnout with the lowest remaining one percent at Polling Stations No. 51 and 119. The votes polled by female voters in the constituency, however, made up 18 percent of the total polled votes. Under section 9(1) of the Elections Act, 2017, if the turnout of women voters is less than 10 percent of the total votes polled in a constituency, the Election Commission may presume that the women voters have been restrained through an agreement from casting their votes and may declare, polling at one or more polling stations or election in the whole constituency, void

Overall, 33,573 (18 percent) registered voters turned out to vote in the by-election. The constituency had recorded 37 percent turnout – 51 percent male and 18 percent female in General Election (GE) 2018 and 23 percent turnout – 33 percent male and 10 percent female – in by-election held in October 2018. There were three female polling stations with less than 10 percent turnout in GE-2018 and 21 in by-election 2018. The persistent low women turnout in the constituency necessitates targeted and urgent measures by the Election Commission to encourage women to vote during future elections.

Procedurally, the by-election witnessed irregularities mainly relating to secrecy of vote and campaigning and canvassing inside and around polling stations. According to FAFEN observers, 52 (29 percent) of 180 observed polling booths had secrecy screens installed in such a manner that might have compromised voter’s secrecy. In addition, 13 polling booths had CCTV cameras angled toward the portion of booth reserved for marking of ballot papers by voters.

The campaigning irregularities also persisted in the recent by-election. A majority of the observed polling stations (59 or 80 percent) had party camps in their legally-prohibited surroundings, while more than a third of those were actively involved in distributing campaign materials to potential voters. FAFEN observers also witnessed the presence of campaign materials of contesting parties or candidates inside 14 (19 percent) observed polling stations.

The voting process was reported to be orderly and peaceful across the observed polling stations. The polling staff was present at all observed polling stations while the election materials were also available in adequate quantities. The Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) and Polling Officers (POs) were duly completing all legal and regulatory requirements for voter identification and ballot issuance. FAFEN observers, however, reported 16 instances of voters being turned away from polling stations as their names were not on the electoral rolls of the station they were visiting.

The counting process was also compliant with the due procedural and legal requirements; however, the observers reported issues concerning the transparency of polling station results. The Presiding Officers did not paste Form-45 (Result of the Count) outside nine (50 percent) of the polling stations where counting was observed. Similarly, Form-46 (Ballot Paper Account) was not pasted in 11 (61 percent) instances.

For 188,084 registered voters in the constituency, the ECP had set up 124 polling stations, assigning more than 1,200 voters to 98 (79 percent) polling stations, which is a legally recommended limit of voters assigned to a polling station.

Three political parties i.e. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Awami National Party (ANP) and Tehreek-e-Inqlab Siyasi Tehreek (TIST) fielded their candidates for PK-7 Swat-VI by-election while one candidate ran independently. According to Form-47 (Provisional Consolidated Statement of Results of the Count), PTI’s candidate Fazal Moula won the by-election securing 17,395 (52 percent) polled votes while ANP’s Hussain Ahmed Khan remained runner up with 14,604 (44 percent) votes. Moreover, two percent (770) of the polled votes were excluded from the count.

During the General Election 2018, PTI’s candidate Mr. Amjad Ali had won this constituency while the ANP’s Waqar Ahmed Khan remained the runner-up. However, Mr. Ali vacated the seat to retain another seat that he had won. Former runner-up Mr. Ahmed won the seat in the by-election held on October 14, 2018 defeating PTI’s candidate Fazal Moula. The seat fell vacant again due to the death of Mr. Waqar Ahmed Khan on April 30, 2022 necessitating a second by-election in the constituency.

FAFEN had deployed a total of 19 non-partisan and trained observers including 12 men, six women and one transgender. These observers were allowed to observe the voting process at 74 polling stations and counting processes at 18 polling stations. FAFEN observers were duly accredited by the Election Commission of Pakistan in compliance with the requirements of section 238 of the Elections Act, 2017.

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The seat had fallen vacant after the death of a Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz’s (PML-N) member who had won the constituency during the General Election (GE) 2018 defeating the PTI candidate. The constituency registered a marked decrease in the turnout as compared to GE-2018 when it remained at 51.9 percent. The decrease may be attributed to the absence of the PTI’s candidate from the by-election.

The by-election came under the spotlight after allegations and counter allegations of vote-buying by candidates of PML-N and Pakistan Peoples’ Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), which compelled the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to order an inquiry, though the findings are still pending.

The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) deployed 30 trained, non-partisan and duly accredited observers (18 men and 12 women) to observe a total of 120 polling stations across the constituency. FAFEN observers observed the process of opening of polling stations as well as voting and counting processes at selected polling stations, and documented their observations on the standardized checklists based on the Elections Act, 2017, Elections Rules, 2017, ECP handbooks for elections officials and relevant notifications and directions of the ECP. This preliminary report is based on the observations received from 79 polling stations.

According to FAFEN observers, the election-day remained largely peaceful and orderly with no major incident affecting the voting and counting processes. As many as 96 percent of 224 voters interviewed by FAFEN observers expressed satisfaction with their voting experiences after casting their ballots. The ones who were not satisfied quoted long distances to polling stations from their homes, and the inadvertent long-wait in voting queues as the reasons for their dissatisfaction.

With the exception of one observer, none of the observers were restricted from observation and were given full access to observe the voting and counting processes inside the polling stations – a marked improvement in the electoral transparency as compared to previous by-elections when reports of restrictions on observers were received. Although a majority of the polling stations were being managed by security officials who were only allowing voters and authorized officials inside the polling stations, FAFEN observers reported unauthorized persons inside at least four polling stations. However, generally, the security officials deployed at the polling stations were observed following the ECP-prescribed code of conduct.

One of the most common illegalities reported by the observers remained campaigning and canvassing by candidates around the polling stations, which has also been a most occurring issue in other elections. FAFEN observers reported campaigning and canvassing outside 94 percent of the observed polling stations. Such campaigning and canvassing around polling stations at times also become a source of election-day violence due to intense competition and may also create an atmosphere of intimidation for voters.

Despite a legal requirement, according to FAFEN observers, the Presiding Officers did not remove campaign materials from inside nine polling stations and outside the walls of 18 polling stations. Similarly, voters were seen with voter parchis from the party camps, which contain their serial number on the electoral rolls. Again, a common illegality that continues to persist during FAFEN’s observation of the recent by-elections. At five polling stations, the Presiding Officers did not seek signatures of polling agents on Form-42 (statement regarding inspection of ballot boxes before start of poll) after showing them empty ballot boxes before the start of polling as required by the law.

In addition, workers of contesting candidates were seen providing transportation to their voters. This is another illegality that the ECP has yet to completely eradicate from the election processes. Such practices, if not controlled, create a disadvantage for candidates belonging to low income groups. Moreover, the cost incurred on voters’ transportation on election-day is not declared as an election expense by the candidates as this is not a permissible cost under the code of conduct for contesting candidates and political parties.

Though the ECP had instructed the polling staff to strictly comply with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for containing the spread of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), at 35 percent polling stations, COVID SOPs were not followed. Similarly, at 41 polling stations, the poster containing COVID-19 safety measures was missing.

The ECP had set up 254 polling stations – 100 male, 100 female and 54 combined – in the constituency, comprising 831 polling booths – 436 male and 395 female. Although the law encourages the Returning Officers to assign not more than 1,200 voters to any polling station and not more than 300 per booth, there were 208 polling stations exceeding the legally encouraged scheme. Most of the Presiding Officers had set-up multiple booths in a single room, which led to overcrowding during voting rush hours. Polling station management along with a higher number of voters assigned to a polling station at times leads to chaos and disorder, which slows down the voting, and may also cause voter suppression as many voters turn away to avoid unnecessary wait or untoward situations.

FAFEN observers reported some incidences of disorder at polling stations as well as instances of voters being turned away for not being registered at the polling stations.

As many as 440,485 voters – 233,558 male and 206,927 female – were registered to vote for the by-election, as compared to 371,676 in GE-2018, registering an increase of 68,809 voters, 30,798 male and 38,011 female voters.

Four political parties – PML-N, PPPP, First Democratic Front (FDF) and Tehreek-e-Islahate Pakistan (TIP) – had fielded their candidates for the by-election, while seven candidates ran independently. The Returning Officer had rejected the nomination papers of the PTI’s main and covering candidates, a decision later upheld by the Election Tribunal.

NA-133 Lahore-XI consists of areas including Green Town, Township, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Pindi Rajputan, Kacha Jail Road, Kot Lakhpat, Model Town’s Q Block flats, Wafaqi Colony and parts of Johar Town.

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FAFEN observers had reported an average of one violation per observed polling station in the last by-election, which was held on a Sindh Assembly seat in Badin district (PS-70 Badin-I) on May 20, 2021.

Illegal campaigning and canvassing around majority of the observed polling stations for PP-38 by-election was observed. FAFEN observers found candidates or contesting parties’ camps set up in the vicinity of 88 percent observed polling stations. The compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for COVID-19 prevention showed a varied trend across the constituency with nearly 50 percent of the observed polling stations partially enforcing the SOPs.

Although lower in number if compared with the constituency turnout during general elections 2018, by-election on PP-38 Sialkot attracted a large number of voters despite rainy weather and ongoing fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic with 55.3 percent voters- 56.6 percent men and 53.9 percent women- coming out to vote for Wednesday’s by-election. During general elections, the constituency had witnessed a cumulative turnout of 59 percent. However, PP-38 by-election turnout is greater than the recent by-elections for NA-249 Karachi West-II, PS-70 Badin and PP-84 Khushab-II, which registered a turnout of 22 percent, 35 percent and 53 percent, respectively.

FAFEN deployed a total of 33 non-partisan, trained and duly accredited observers- 25 men and eight women- to observe the polling processes at 126 polling stations – 30 male, 33 female, and 63 combined.

As for polling arrangements, election authorities had assigned more than 1,200 voters to a polling station, which is a legally recommended limit of voters on a polling station, at more than two thirds of the polling stations (114 or 69 percent). FAFEN observers reported more than one polling booth in the same room at 48 polling stations – 11 male, 18 female, and 19 combined – making the polling space congested for voters.

The seating arrangements for the candidates’ polling agents at 122 (97 percent) observed polling stations, however, were observed to be proper enabling them to observe the polling processes firsthand and raise objections or make challenges.

The observers found election materials in adequate quantities at all observed polling stations except one. Moreover, all due arrangements were made at the polling stations to protect the secrecy of voters except for five polling stations where secrecy screens were placed improperly compromising the secrecy of voters’ choice.

FAFEN observers interviewed at least three voters outside every observed polling station about their satisfaction with the polling processes and the overall environment of the by-election. Voters outside 104 (83 percent) polling stations expressed their satisfaction with the entire polling process. Voters outside 16 (13 percent) polling stations were partially satisfied. Only one interviewer expressed complete dissatisfaction with the polling process.

Three political parties i.e. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) had fielded their candidates for PP-38 Sialkot-IV by-election while five candidates ran independently. A comparison of votes polled to two main contenders (PTI and PML-N) during GE-2018 and recent by-election shows a marked increase in PTI’s vote share, which rose from 32.8 percent in 2018 to 48.5 percent in 2021 while PML-N’s vote share slightly decreased from 46.6 percent to 43.6 percent. PTI candidate has returned from the constituency, as per provisional result, by securing 62,657 votes.

The by-election was necessitated due to the death of PMLN Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Chaudhry Khush Akhtar Subhani, who had won this constituency during the GE-2018 by securing 57,617 votes.

Detailed report can be accessed at: FAFEN’s PP-38 By-Election Observation Report

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As many as 58,545 registered voters – 33,751 (36.8 percent) men and 24,794 (32.9 percent) women – exercised their right to vote during by-election. The by-election recorded a turnout of 35.10 percent of registered voters- dropping from 53.67% percent recorded for the constituency during GE-2018 as hot weather and COVID-19 spread remained a challenge for voters to come out and cast their ballot. The low incidence of procedural violations was observed due to improved election management averaging almost one irregularity per polling station like by-election held on May 5, 2021 in PP-84 (Khushab-III, Punjab). Five political parties fielded their candidates in by-election, while one candidate contested independently. The winning candidate scored 79.29 percent of the polled votes while the runner-up candidate obtained 10.64 percent of the polled votes.

FAFEN’s trained citizen observers reported a total of 110 violations of electoral laws, rules, and/or various codes of conduct issued by ECP for the conduct of elections, averaging around one per observed polling station. FAFEN deployed 29 non-partisan and duly accredited observers—24 male and five females—to observe the polling process at 105 polling stations (26 male, 18 female, and 61 combined).

The compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for COVID-19 prevention showed a varied trend across the constituency with only 48 percent of the observed polling stations strictly enforcing the SOPs. Majority of the observed violations were of ban on campaigning and canvassing in surroundings of the polling stations. FAFEN observers found candidates or contesting parties’ camps set up in vicinity of 35 percent polling stations.

As far as polling station arrangements are concerned, 36 polling stations—10 male, five female and 21 combined—housed more than one booth in a single room making the polling space congested. A total of 77 out of 123 polling stations were allocated more than 1,200 voters. However, the seating arrangements for the candidates’ polling agents at all polling stations was seen to be proper and enabling for them to observe the polling process firsthand and raise objections, if any.

The observers found election materials in adequate quantities at 101 of the observed polling stations but scarcity of election material was reported at four polling stations. All due arrangements were made at the polling stations to protect the secrecy of voters except at four polling stations where secrecy screens were placed improperly that allowed people inside polling booth to watch voters marking their choice on ballot paper.

Observers representing the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) asked voters how satisfied they were with the voting process. Voters outside 97 polling stations—25 male, 15 female, and 57 combined—expressed their complete satisfaction with the voting process. In contrast, voters outside the remaining polling stations said they were partially satisfied. None of the interviewed voters express complete dissatisfaction with the process.

As many as five political parties had fielded their candidates for PS-70 by-election, while one candidate contested independently. A comparison of main contesting parties (PPPP and JUIP) through Forms-47 – provisional consolidated statement of results of the count – of GE-2018 and by-election 2021 shows an increase in percentage vote share of PPPP from 58.37 percent in GE-2018 to 79.28 percent in by-election 2021 and of JUIP from 3.6 percent to 10.64 percent.

The by-elections were necessitated due to the death of Pakistan Peoples’ Party Parliamentarian’s MPA Bashir Ahmed Halepoto on March 23 who had won this constituency during the General Elections 2018 by securing 44,385 votes. His nephew Dada Muhammed Halepoto of PPPP won Thursday’s by-election by securing 79.29 percent (46,420) of the total polled votes.

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As many as 155,089 registered voters – 86,178 (55.56 percent) men and 68,911 (50.09 percent) women – exercised their right to vote during by-election. The election turnout, though encouraging for a by-election, was lower than 61.7 percent turnout recorded during General Election (GE) 2018.

FAFEN’s trained citizen observers reported a total of 83 violations of electoral laws, rules, and/or various codes of conduct issued by ECP for the conduct of elections, averaging less than one violation (0.9) per observed polling station. FAFEN deployed 28 non-partisan and duly accredited observers—13 male and 15 females—to observe the polling process at 88 polling stations (eight male, nine female, and 71 combined).

The compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for COVID-19 prevention showed a varied trend across the constituency with only 49 percent of the observed polling stations strictly enforcing the SOPs. Majority of the observed violations were of ban on campaigning and canvassing in surroundings of the polling stations. FAFEN observers found candidates or contesting parties’ camps set up in vicinity of 55 polling stations.

As far as polling station arrangements are concerned, 15 polling stations—four female and 11 combined—housed more than one booth in a single room making the space congested. The seating arrangements for the candidates’ polling agents at four polling stations was disabling them to observe the polling process firsthand and raise any objections.

Though the overall voter turnout in the constituency was satisfactory, one polling station was observed with no votes cast at all during first two hours of the polling. Reportedly, the voters boycotted the poll in protest against unavailability of electricity in the polling area.

The observers found election materials in adequate quantities at all of the observed polling stations. All due arrangements were made at the polling stations to protect the secrecy of voters except at one polling station where secrecy screens were placed improperly that allowed people inside polling booth to watch voters marking their choice on ballot paper.

Observers representing the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) asked voters how satisfied they were with the voting process. Voters outside 82 polling stations—eight male, nine female, and 65 combined—expressed their satisfaction. In contrast, voters outside the remaining polling stations said they were partially satisfied.

As many as four political parties had fielded their candidates for PP-84 by-election, while seven candidates contested independently. The winning candidate secured 47 percent (73,081) of the polled votes (155,089), while the runner-up obtained 40.5 percent (62,903) of the polled votes. A comparison of Forms 47 – provisional consolidated statement of results of the count – of GE-2018 and by-election 2021 shows an increase in percentage vote share of PML-N from 40.2 percent in GE-2018 to 47 percent in By-election 2021 and of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from 36.2 percent in GE-2018 to 40.5 percent in by-election 2021. On the other hand, the vote share of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) decreased from 7.5 percent in GE-2018 to 3.73 percent in by-election 2021 and of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) from 0.82 percent in GE-2018 to 0.15 in by-election 2021.

The by-elections were necessitated due to the death of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Muhammad Waris Shad who had won this constituency during the General Elections 2018 by securing 66,459 votes. His son Muhammad Moazzam Sher of PML-N won Wednesday’s by-election by securing 47 percent (73,081) of the total polled votes.

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Observers representing the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) asked voters how satisfied they were with the voting process. Voters outside 98 polling stations—18 men’s, 17 women’s, and 53 combined—expressed their satisfaction. In contrast, voters outside the remaining polling stations said they were partially satisfied.

The observers found election material in enough quantities at all of the observed polling stations. Except for two incidents of unauthorized individuals going behind the secrecy screens at two polling stations, there were no other incidents that compromised voters’ secrecy. Except for two cases, the observers did not see party workers persuading voters inside the polling stations.

On election day, FAFEN’s trained citizen observers reported 143 violations, of which 55 related to the presence of party camps in the polling stations’ surroundings. In 11 instances, the polling staff did not allow voters to cast votes and sent them back. At 19 polling stations, the observers saw the COVID-19 SOPs not implemented at all. The other 58 instances of violations pertained to procedural irregularities, mainly in voting and counting processes. On average, the observers reported 1.3 violations per polling station.

Twelve political parties fielded their candidates in the NA-249 by-election while 18 candidates contested independently. The winning candidate secured 22 percent (16,156) of the polled votes (73,471). The party analysis shows significant changes in the vote shares of different political parties.

Muhammad Faisal Vawda of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won from this constituency during the General Elections 2018. He had secured 27 percent (35,349) of the total polled votes (131,190). Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Mian Shehbaz Sharif finished runner-up with 26 percent (34,626) of the polled votes.

Abdul Qadir Mandokhel of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) won the April 29 by-election by securing 22 percent of the total polled votes. The party had secured only six percent (7,236) of polled votes during General Elections 2018. The NA-249 seat had fallen vacant due to the resignation of PTI MNA Muhammad Faisal Vawda, who became a senator in the election on March 3, 2021.

FAFEN deployed 28 nonpartisan and duly accredited observers—19 male and nine females—to observe the polling process at 112 polling stations (30 male, 20 female, and 62 combined). They reported that the polling process was generally well organized at the observed polling stations. Nearly 84 percent (94) of the monitored polling stations had polling booths in separate rooms. However, around 18 polling stations—five each male and female and eight combined—housed more than one booth in a single room. The polling agents of contesting candidates were present at all the observed polling stations. All were seated perfectly and could easily observe the process.

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Political competition was heightened following the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which was maintained by the Supreme Court also, to have re-poll in the constituency after reported incidents of rigging and irregularities during and after polling in by-election conducted earlier on February 19, 2021.

Despite the third wave of COVID-19 and the controversies emerged in by-election, a large number of voters both male and female came out to exercise their right to vote in re-poll held on April 10, 2021. In this constituency of 494,003 registered voters three political parties and six independent candidates were in the run.

Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Nosheen Iftikhar won the by-election by securing 110,075 of the polled votes while the runner-up Ali Asjad Malhi, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate got 93,433 votes. According to the Provisional Consolidated Statement of the Result of the Count (Form-47), a total of 1,702 votes were excluded from the count. During the GE-2018, Syed Iftikhar ul Hassan had won this constituency as a PML-N candidate by securing 101,617 polled votes while PTI candidate Ali Asjad Malhi was declared runner-up securing 61,432 votes. The seat had fallen vacant due to the death of Syed Iftikhar ul Hassan.

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On Election Day, FAFEN’s trained citizen observers reported a total of 76 procedural irregularities regarding the campaigning and canvassing, voting and counting processes, and security arrangements – averaging less than one violation per polling station. FAFEN deployed a total of 30 non-partisan and duly accredited observers – 25 men and five women – to observe the polling processes at 99 stations including 22 male, 26 female, and 51 combined.

The polling process was generally observed to be organized at the observed polling stations. Nearly 85 percent of the observed polling stations had polling booths in separate rooms; however, around 15 percent of the polling stations – 23 percent male, 27 percent female, and six percent combined – housed more than one booth in a single room. The polling agents of contesting candidates were present at 97 percent of the polling stations, and all of them were seated at a place where they could easily observe the process.

FAFEN observers also inquired voters about their level of satisfaction with the voting process. None of the voters expressed dissatisfaction with the voting process. Voters outside 87 percent polling stations – 86 percent male, 85 percent female, and 88 percent combined – expressed their full satisfaction with the process, while the voters outside the remaining polling stations were somewhat or partially satisfied.

The election materials were observed to be inadequate quantities at all of the observed polling stations except one combined polling station. The observers did not witness any incident of polling staff disallowing a voter from casting his or her ballot. With the exception of two incidents of unauthorized persons going behind the secrecy screens at two polling stations, there were no other incidents that compromised the secrecy of voters.

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ISLAMABAD, November 8, 2019: Low turnout of voters marked the peaceful by-election for Sindh Assembly constituency PS-86 Dadu-IV. Observers deployed by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) recorded a relatively lesser incidence of procedural irregularities in comparison to a recent by-election for PS-11 Larkana-II, says FAFEN’s observation report.

The report is based on the observation of 68 polling stations recorded by 24 observers who used a standardized methodology based on the Elections Act, 2017, Election Rules 2017, ECP Codes of Conduct and Handbooks for election officials. Each of these trained, nonpartisan and duly accredited observers visited up to four polling stations on Election Day to directly observe and report on the election environment inside and outside polling stations, instances of electoral and political violence, pre-voting preparations at polling stations, and voting and counting processes inside polling stations. Each observer spent nearly one hour at each polling station to observe polling processes.

Despite a competitive campaign, the voter turnout witnessed a substantial decline. The by-election recorded a turnout of 36.2 percent of registered voters- dropping from 51.4 percent recorded for the constituency during GE-2018. The turnout of men voters decreased from 51.06 percent in GE-2018 to 36.25 percent while the women turnout fell from 51.84 percent to 36.19 percent.

For Thursday’s by-election, as many as 72,392 registered voters- 40,004 men and 32,388 women- exercised their right to vote. A total of 199,858 voters were registered- 110,365 men and 89,493 women- for the by-election. The constituency went to by-election with 20,188 more voters- an addition of 9,847 men and 10,341 women voters- than those registered for GE-2018.

Pir Syed Saleh Shah Jilani, the candidate for Pakistan Peoples’ Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) won the by-election by securing 40,595 votes (56 percent of total polled votes) with Imdad Hussain Leghari, the runner-up candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) getting 25,406 votes (35 percent of polled votes). According to the Provisional Consolidated Statement of the Result of the Count (Form-47), a total of 3,013 (four percent) votes were excluded from the count.

During GE 2018, the constituency had witnessed a relatively closer contest when the returned candidate from PPPP had secured 43,720 votes- 47.3 percent of total polled votes- against a PTI runner-up’s 38,794 votes- 42 percent of total polled votes. The by-election was warranted due to death of the member representing the constituency Syed Ghulam Shah Jilani. PTI has tried a different candidate for the constituency for by-election.

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The report is based on the observation of 69 polling stations received from 21 observers who used a standardized methodology based on the Elections Act, 2017, Election Rules 2017, ECP Codes of Conduct and handbooks for election officials. These trained, nonpartisan and duly accredited observers visited up to four polling stations on Election Day to directly observe and report on the election environment inside and outside polling stations, instances of electoral and political violence, pre-voting preparations at polling stations and voting and counting processes inside polling stations. Each observer spent nearly one hour at each polling station to observe polling processes.

FAFEN documented instances of improbable voting at at least one of booths of 21 polling stations where an average of more than 33 votes per hour had been cast at the time of observation. These polling stations included polling stations numbers 10, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 37, 44, 56, 57, 61, 72, 73, 75, 95, 102, 108, 110 and 112. According to Form 48-Consolidated Statement of the Results of the Count Furnished by the Presiding Officers, GDA emerged winner at 17 of these polling stations as compared to four such polling stations where PPPP candidate secured a majority vote.

The improbable voting pattern is calculated on the basis of estimated time required to complete the voting process – right from the appearance of a voter before the Polling Officer to his/her actual casting of ballot – is 108 seconds or 1 minute and 48 seconds. This estimation is based on the provision of Section 59 (3) of the Elections Act, 2017 which requires the Returning officers to allocate, as far as practicable, not more than 1,200 voters per polling station and not more than 300 voters per booth. This legal provision averages the polling rate per hour at 33. Any rate higher than 33 raises questions about the quality of the voting process and needs to be scrutinized by the ECP to see whether election officials have fulfilled all legal formalities before issuing a ballot to the voter.

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