ISLAMABAD, November 4, 2011: Suspicious voting pattern at 14 polling stations and heavy police presence underlined the one-sided contest in NA-203 Shikarpur-cum-Sukkur-cum-Larkana (Old Shikarpur-II) as people of the constituency went to the polls at 47 polling stations necessitated by the judgment of an election tribunal in Sindh, reports the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Preliminary Observation Report.

The turnout at 47 polling stations where fresh polling was ordered remained 79%, a little less than 83.8% percent turnout registered during the 2008 general elections. Of 79% polled votes, 99% went to the candidate of PML-Q Ghous Bux Khan Meher who had also won the seat in the 2008 general election when he was polled 92.2% votes at the same polling stations. However, the result of these polling stations was challenged as fraudulent by one of the candidates, which was upheld by the Judge of High Court of Sindh/Election Tribunal in Election Petition No. 211, directing fresh polls. The fresh polling, however, yielded the similar results.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had set-up 47 polling stations – 6 male, 7 female and 34 combined polling stations. The 47 polling stations had 133 polling booths; 61 male and 72 female.

FAFEN deployed eight trained observers on Election Day to monitor 77% of the polling stations set up in the constituency. Observers spent between 45 and 60 minutes in each polling station to document their observations and findings on a standardized checklist that is based on the provisions of the Representation of the Peoples Act 1976, Conduct of Elections Rules 1977, and instructional handbooks that the ECP has provided to election officials.

This preliminary report is based on observation of 33 polling stations – 4 male, 4 female and 25 combined. Some of FAFEN’s key findings include: 

Suspicious Voting Patterns

There were 26 polling booths at 14 polling stations where FAFEN observers recorded suspicious voting patterns. If the polling is most efficient and each voter is taking approximately a minute and 30 seconds for processing (checking of name, checking of CNIC, issuance of ballot paper, going behind secrecy screen, stamping a ballot and returning of stamp to the assistant presiding officer), there can be approximately 45 votes that can be cast in an hour at a booth. However, the rate of voting was much higher than possible at 26 booths of polling stations listed below. The following table gives booth-wise average of polled votes per hour. An average higher than 45 brings into question the speed with which the voters were being processed.

Fraudulent Voting

At three polling stations ballot papers were issued without filling the counterfoils, indicating the possibility of fraudulent votes being stuffed in ballot boxes. Similarly, FAFEN observers reported from five polling stations that the numbers of Computerized National Identity Cards of voters as written on the counterfoils of the ballot books did not match the corresponding entries on the electoral rolls, again raising the possibility that fraudulent voting might have taken place. At four polling stations, dubious thumb impressions marked on counterfoils of ballot books at the same angle with phasing out ink print were observed. In the case of genuine voters, each thumb impression is marked in fresh, dark ink and may be at varying angles. 

Unauthorized Persons Inside Polling Stations

At 31 polling stations, police officials were present inside the polling stations and at one polling station they were trying to influence election officials. Under electoral rules, even at sensitive polling stations, police is only authorized to maintain order outside polling stations in order to ensure smooth polling. They can only enter polling stations or booths when requested by the presiding officer.

FAFEN observer reports indicate the presence of local influential persons inside five polling stations. Instances were reported where some of these unauthorized persons were attempting to influence election officials.

Similarly, in violation of electoral rules, polling officials at two polling stations were attempting to persuade voters to vote in favor of a specific candidate. 

Campaigning and Canvassing around Polling Stations

FAFEN observers reported from 27 polling stations that the workers of contesting candidates were campaigning and canvassing in violation of election laws that bar the same within 400 yards of polling stations. Armed civilians were also observed to have been present at party camps around one polling station. Such display of arms inhibits voters from turning out to vote as well as compel them to vote under pressure. 

Interference with FAFEN Observers

FAFEN observer was stopped from observing the voting process by the Presiding Officer at one polling station on instructions of an Ex-Local Government Nazim. The ECP allows its accredited observers to monitor all stages of the election, including the opening of polling stations, voting and the counting process.

FAFEN Recommendations

Having observed the aforementioned irregularities, FAFEN recommends:

• The ECP should ensure that security officials perform only their designated duty of maintaining law and order outside of polling stations and do not attempt to manage election officials.
• The ECP should reprimand all election officials who failed to enforce the election rules and laws.
• The ECP and all provincial, district, and local election officials should administer each by-election with the same vigilance and attention to enforcing the law and procedures as during any general election. The result of any by-election not administered vigilantly should be voided.
• To eliminate unauthorized people from being in polling stations:
  • Presiding Officers should be encouraged and provided adequate protections to use their magisterial powers.
  • All polling officials must be required to carry their Government Service Cards to prove their identity on Election Day.
  • Polling officials should ensure that only one polling agent representing each political party – and carrying proper identification from their party – is permitted in each polling booth.
  • Only people carrying proper identifications should be permitted inside polling stations and allowed to vote.
  • Adequate security checks should be performed in order to prevent unauthorized and armed persons in and around polling stations.
  • All polling officials must be required to carry their Government Service Cards to prove their identity on Election Day.
• Adequate training of all polling officials must be ensured for all by-elections.
• Polling officials should ensure that all campaign materials and camps are removed from around the polling stations. 
• More generally, given the consistent weaknesses in ECP by-election administration, by-elections should be minimized by restricting each candidate in general elections to contesting in only one constituency.

About FAFEN: FAFEN is a network of 42 civil society organizations working to foster democratic accountabilities in Pakistan. It is governed by the Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability.