FAFEN Urges ECP to Audit Challenged Constituencies

ISLAMABAD: The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has put forward a comprehensive three-stage approach for the meticulous examination of election results, urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to employ advanced data analytics and forensic techniques to ensure the legitimacy of the outcomes of the 2024 general election.

In its proposal, FAFEN emphasized the importance of involving representatives nominated by relevant political parties along with independent observers to oversee transparency and credibility throughout the audit process.

Since 2013, FAFEN has been advocating for the election commission to scrutinize results across all constituencies before officially declaring winners, aiming to strengthen the integrity of election outcomes and minimize post-election disputes that often prolong legal proceedings beyond statutory deadlines.

Highlighting the urgency of addressing allegations of irregularities and illegalities raised by political entities and candidates, FAFEN stressed the need for prompt action to validate that the results accurately reflect the true mandate of the electorate.

FAFEN’s proposed audit methodology is rooted in a technically driven investigation relying on physical evidence, including official election documents available with the election commission under Section 99 of the Elections Act, 2017.

The audit, structured in three stages, entails assessing the authenticity and completeness of election documentation, identifying the impact of unverified forms on election outcomes, and determining accountability while addressing any discrepancies involving election officials.

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FAFEN underscored the significant logistical effort required for conducting elections, which involves the deployment of hundreds of thousands of officials drawn from the executive and judiciary.

For the 2024 general election, approximately 1.5 million election and polling officials were appointed to oversee operations, including counting, tabulation, and result consolidation, which have sparked controversies and disputes.