Parties Naming Candidates; Defections at Peak

Introduction

The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has deployed 130 District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) in districts across the country to observe all aspects of the election process. The observers send data to the FAFEN Election Observation Secretariat in Islamabad, which uses it to publish pre-election updates distributed to the public, media and other stakeholders. The information is also used to raise issues with the stakeholders to help improve the electoral process.

This report, based on information received from 39 districts, highlights various political developments observed in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP), Balochistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The information was gathered from March 1 to 21, 2013, immediately before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the official schedule for General Election 2013.

Summary

FAFEN’s DLTOs identified at least 39 districts during the reporting period with 47 political developments related to General Election 2013, including districts where election campaigns started before the announcement of the election schedule. Most of the districts are in KP (18), followed by Sindh (9), FATA (5), Punjab (4) and Balochistan (3).

DLTOs identified twenty four (24) significant political developments in KP, followed by ten (10) in Sindh, five (5) each in Punjab as well as FATA and three in Balochistan.

The developments pertain to at least 12 political parties as well as independent candidates. The parties are Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl-ur-Rehman (JUI-F), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami-ul-Haq (JUI-S), Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Muslim League-Like Minded (PML-LM), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Pakistan (TTP) and Awami Muslim League (AML).

Party-wise Political Developments and Early Campaigning

FAFEN DLTOs observed 47 activities that can be construed as early campaigning and/or political developments related to the General Election 2013. The following table details these activities per district, according to the political parties and independent candidates.

Province-wise Political Developments and Early Campaigning

FAFEN DLTOs observed a total of 47 political developments or early campaigning activities in 39 districts. The most developments and campaigning activities were reported in 18 districts of KP (24 developments/incidents), followed by nine districts of Sindh (10 developments), four districts of Punjab and five FATA Agencies (5 developments), and three developments in three districts of Balochistan. The following table sorts these activities by province.

Details of Party Political Developments and Early Campaigning

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

FAFEN observers recorded nine (9) activities in as many districts related to PTI that can be construed as early campaigning or political developments. These activities were reported in KP, Punjab and FATA.

• The party was in the process of finalizing candidates for contesting National and Provincial Assembly seats in Mianwali (Punjab) and the district board planned to forward the names for final approval to the National Parliamentary Board.
• In Chitral (KP), a PTI worker – Abdul Latif – was being considered a potential candidate to contest for the National Assembly seat.
• Hundreds of PTI workers from Hangu and Mardan traveled to Peshawar on the directives of the district party chapters to attend a public gathering on March 15.
• Following ECP orders for intra-party polls as a pre-requisite for contesting General Election, the party conducted polls in Mohmand Agency (FATA).
• In Upper Dir (KP), a member of PPPP, Nawab Ali Khan, joined PTI and is expected to contest for PK-92 seat.
• The party started its campaigning in Malakand (KP) where the district president inaugurated a playground in village Qaldra. In North Waziristan (FATA), five tribal leaders – Malik Silasar Jan, Akal Khan, Malik Ihsan, Malik Zahid and Malik Usman – announced joining PTI, making the party’s position strong in the area against the JUI-F.
• PTI organized a public procession on Ring Road in Peshawar (KP) that was attended by hundreds of party workers and others.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)

A total of six election-related activities or developments of PML-N were recorded by FAFEN observers in six districts.

• In Hangu (KP), PML-N arranged a meeting to discuss their election strategy. Hundreds of workers visited Peshawar to attend an election-related meeting.
• Prominent PML-N leaders Amir Muqam, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, Pir Sabir Shah, Farid Tofan, Zafar Azam and Rehmat Salam attended an election campaign rally in Karak (KP).
• In a bid to seek voter support in Malakand (KP), PML-N leaders arranged for completion of repair work on bridges and drain channels in several villages of tehsil Dargai.
• In Swat, Malik Akhtar, an influential political figure, joined PML-N.
• In Malir (Sindh), Baloch and Memon communities announced they will support PML-N.
• Mirza Afzal Baig, a well-known political figure, announced joining PML-N in Sargodha (Punjab).

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl-ur-Rehman (JUI-F)

JUI-F arranged four political activities in as many districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

• In Tank, a former Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) Tahir Bin Yamin defected from PTI and joined JUI-F.
• In Kohistan (KP), former MPA Sajjad Ullah Khan quit ANP to join JUI-F ranks, while his uncle Mehboob Ullah Jan, a former MNA of PPPP, also did the same.
• JUI-F arranged a meeting in Dera Ismail Khan (KP) chaired by party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss electoral strategy. Prominent political figure Haleem Qasuria announced joining JUI-F, which may strengthen the party’s position in NA-24 and PK-65.
• In South Wazirstan (FATA), intra party elections of JUI-F were held.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami-ul-Haq (JUI-S)

• JUI-S announced the names of contesting candidates for NA and PA seats in Lakki Marwat. Syed Yousaf Shah will contest for NA-27, Hidayat Ullah for KP-74, Kalu Khan for KP-75 and Habib Ullah Haqqani for KP-76.

PML-N and JUI-F

• In Haripur, seat adjustment on two PA seats (PK-49 and PK-52) was almost finalized between JUI-F and PML-N.  The former was likely to support the latter’s candidates Raja Faisal Zaman and former KP Chief Minister Pir Sabir Shah.
• Moreover, negotiations between both parties were underway for seat adjustment for a NA and two other PA seats. Pir Alam Zeb (JUI-F) and Omer Ayub Khan (PML-N) were being considered for the NA seat.

Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP)

• Former MNA Sardar Muhammad Mushtaq, who recently switched from PML-N to PPPP, started election campaigning in Haripur. Tough competition is expected in NA-19 between PPPP and a joint candidate of JUI-F and PML-N.
• In Matiari, PPPP hosted a rally that was led by party president Makhdoom Amin Fahim.  Reportedly, the PPPP is gearing up for campaign in the district following political activities of Awami Ittehad.
• In Shaheed Benazirabad, office-bearers of various political parties – other than PPPP – started holding corner meetings with voters. PML-N and PML-F were also trying to gather support of PPPP supporters through electioneering activities.
• In Jacobabad (NA-208), FIFA Sports Ground and a public park were inaugurated by PPPP leader Mir Aijaz Khan Jakharani at the Special Force Ground.
• In Lahore, PPPP leader Syed Asif Hashmi visited various localities of constituency NA-118 and addressed public gatherings.

Pakistan Muslim League (Like-Minded)

• In Mirpurkhas, Provincial President of PML (Like-Minded) nominated Zahid Hussain Mari to contest for NA- 226, Arbab Inayat Ullah for PS-66, former senator Ghaffar Qureshi for PS- 64 and Zulifqar Shah for PS-65.
• The Arain community in Sanghar announced that it will support PML (Like-Minded) candidates.
• Political activities of PML (Like-Minded) gained momentum in Tharparkar after the return of former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim to Pakistan.

Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F)

• PML-F finalized the names of candidates for one NA and three PA seats in Umerkot and forwarded them to PML-F chairman for approval.  For PS-68, the names of Haji Ali Bux Mangrio, Muhammad Hashmi Memon and Bhamro Mal Malhi were recommended. Fakir Muhammad Jadam Mangrio, Fakir Maghan Mangrio, Haji Muhammad Umer Mangrio, Kamar Din Mangrio, Rais Allah Bachayo Mangrio, and Peer Niaz Jan Sarhandi were suggested for PS-69. Qasim Siraj Soomro, Khizer Hyat Mangrio were listed for PS-70, and Haji Khalid Soomro and Haji Ali Bux Mangrio were recommended for NA-288.

Awami National Party (ANP)

• The leaders of Awami National Party – Afrasiab Khattak, Mian Iftikhar and Nawabzada Mohsin Ali – attended the inaugural ceremony of Khushal Khan Khattak University in Karak (KP).
• In Tribal Area (XII-FRs), ANP hosted a jirga to finalize Shahi Khan as the candidate to contest for NA-47. In Lakki Marwat, the district chapter of ANP announced their candidates for various constituencies – Ali Sarwar Khan from NA-27, Sadar Uddin Khan from PK-74, Ibrahim Khan from PK-75 and Humayun Khan Begu Khel from PK-76.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)

• JI announced the candidates for all PA and NA seats in Bannu. Humayun Khan, a well-known politician, joined JI after quitting PPPP in Lower Dir (PK-94).
• In Buner, JI is expected to face tough competition as four parties – PPP, JUI-F, QWP, AWP – agreed to field a joint candidate for NA-28. ANP and PML-N are also expected to contest elections for this seat.

Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M)

• In Panjgur, BNP-M held a meeting to discuss election strategy, and concluded that party leadership would finalize whether to participate in the General Election or boycott it.

Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Pakistan (TTP)

• Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Pakistan Chairman Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan visited Charasdda (KP) to kick off election campaign. He nominated Peer Aftab as party candidate to contest for PK-18 seat. This is the first nomination made by the party for contesting the General Election.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)

• In Karachi East, MQM organized a meeting with the Gujjar community in Shah Faisal Town and managed to win the community’s support for its candidate for NA-256.

Awami Muslim League (AML)

• In Rawalpindi, Awami Muslim League (AML) held two public gatherings in two constituencies: NA-55 and NA-56.

Others

• In Orakzai Agency, a potential independent candidate for NA seat, Ajmal Khan, arranged a grand jirga with the Malaks and Shaikhan tribes, urging them to support him in the General Election.
• Former Nazim of Lower Dir Ibrahim Khan announced he would contest for PK-94 seat as an independent candidate.
• In Mastung, former MNA got electricity for village Killi Aysha Pringabad Mastung, fulfilling the long-standing demand of the people just ahead of elections.
• In Mirpurkhas, representatives of Sunni Tehreek, Sindh United Party, Sindh Taraqi Passand Party (STP), PML-F, PML-N, JUI-F, and JI jointly organized a press conference and alleged that former ministers and advisers were influencing appointments in various departments including police, education, revenue and the Election Commission of Pakistan.
• In Khyber Agency, the potential candidate for NA-45 Al-Haj Shahjee Gul funded the repair of pavements and clean drinking water scheme in order to get the support of voters.
• Pakistan Awami Tehrik chief Tahirul Qadri addressed a gathering in Rawalpindi and announced his party would boycott the General Election.

FAFEN Election Program

FAFEN is implementing a long-term election observation program nationwide, including both pre- and post-electoral processes. FAFEN is deploying 130 District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs) across the country to monitor all phases of elections.  FAFEN’s Constituency Long-Term Observers (CLTOs) will observe the political campaigns in all National Assembly constituencies during the two months prior to Election Day. In addition, FAFEN will deploy more than 43,000 trained, non-partisan citizens to monitor polling stations across the country on Election Day.

All FAFEN observers adhere to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Code of Conduct for National Observers as well as the Global Principles for Non-Partisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations (April 2012).  FAFEN’s 10-month observation process that began from February 1, 2013, helps keep all election stakeholders informed on issues relevant to fairness and transparency at every stage of the election process.

FAFEN Election Observation Methodology

FAFEN’s election observation activities are based on the Constitution and laws of Pakistan, global best practice standards for elections, as well as the legal obligations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by Pakistan in 2010.  FAFEN LTOs use standardized checklists to report electronically to the FAFEN Election Observation Secretariat in Islamabad regularly. FAFEN compiles data and information from around the country to issue regular thematic updates for the consideration of voters and election stakeholders.

FAFEN LTOs monitor and report on the activities of District Election Commissioner (DEC) offices, preparations of elections such as appointment and training of election officials, the process of candidate nominations, and compliance with the ECP’s Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates (after the announcement of election schedule). In addition, LTOs observe and report on compliance of the executive branch with legal responsibilities and ECP regulations, including restrictions on transfers of civil service personnel and initiation of new development schemes.  LTOs also monitor political and electoral intimidation and violence, the actions of the police and other security forces, and the overall political environment during the pre-election period.

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