Commonwealth Observer Group calls for reforms to strengthen Pakistan’s democracy

ISLAMABAD: The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG), which monitored Pakistan’s 2024 general elections, has released its final report highlighting areas for improvement and offering recommendations to strengthen the independence of the country’s democratic institutions.

The independent 13-member group, led by former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was convened by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC following an invitation from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Current Commonwealth Secretary-General Hon. Shirley Botchwey expressed her gratitude to the observers for their diligent work and commitment to transparency. She reiterated her full commitment to Commonwealth values and stated that the Secretariat has engaged with the Pakistani government and the ECP to encourage the establishment of domestic mechanisms to address the report’s recommendations in line with revised guidelines.

The Secretariat pledged to support these initiatives to strengthen democracy in Pakistan for the benefit of all its citizens.

The final report highlighted several concerns, including conditions that appeared to limit fundamental political rights and affected one party’s ability to fairly contest the elections. It also noted the shutdown of cellular services on election night, which hindered transparency and delayed the efficient receipt of results. These developments, the report concluded, may have impacted the credibility, transparency, and inclusiveness of the electoral process.

Despite these challenges, the COG commended the efforts of the Election Commission of Pakistan, particularly praising the expansion of its Gender and Social Inclusion Wing.

This initiative contributed to reducing the voter registration gender gap from 12 percent in 2013 to 7.7 percent in 2024. The report also acknowledged the establishment of a gender hotline by the ECP to address election-related harassment and intimidation and noted an improvement in youth voter turnout.

The observers emphasized that Pakistan’s democracy holds enormous potential. They highlighted the country’s vibrant and diverse media, increased engagement of women and youth, and the critical role played by civil society organizations in pushing for democratic reforms.

The report suggested various reforms to the electoral process, including improvements to the legal framework, election administration, laws affecting political rights and women’s participation, pre-election campaigns, and media roles.

The Commonwealth Observer Group’s recommendations aim to foster future improvements in Pakistan’s elections, emphasizing mutual learning and cooperation in the Commonwealth spirit.

The group’s role, as outlined by the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, was to impartially observe the electoral process and provide recommendations based on their evaluations of the pre-election environment, polling day, and post-election activities.

Throughout their mission, observers assessed whether conditions allowed for a credible, transparent, and inclusive election, examining media freedom, a level playing field for candidates, and Pakistan’s adherence to domestic and international election standards.

The COG members, independent from the Commonwealth Secretariat, included former and current parliamentarians, election officials, civil society experts, media representatives, gender specialists, youth leaders, and former judiciary members.

The final report has been submitted to the Government of Pakistan and shared with relevant stakeholders, building upon the interim findings issued shortly after the elections and offering a comprehensive assessment of the entire electoral process.