Delimitation Proposals: FAFEN Identifies Discrepancies in Size of Electoral Constituencies

ISLAMABAD, March 16, 2018: Free and Fair Election Network (ECP) has identified varying degree of discrepancies in the population size of electoral constituencies in fresh delimitation proposals laid out by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). While ECP has upheld the legal delimitation principles of geographical compactness and respect for the existing boundaries of administrative units, the principle of equality of vote is compromised in as many as 81 National Assembly constituencies where the variation in population size exceeds the ordinarily permissible legal limit of 10%.

Election Rules, 2017 drafted and approved by ECP appeared to have been strictly adhered to but in that process legal principle of equality of vote is compromised. Rules pertaining to delimitation could not sufficiently operationalize the legal principle of equality of vote among constituencies. Law provides for equality among constituencies but Rules have attempted to follow this principle among provinces and districts. In a detailed analysis of the Preliminary Report and List of Constituencies released by ECP, FAFEN examined the variations found in the population and voter size of the National Assembly (NA) constituencies with regards to the national, provincial and district averages of population and voters per constituency.

 
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TDEA-FAFEN Launches Pakistan’s Most Comprehensive Election Portal

Election records of more than 62,506 candidates is now only a few clicks away ISLAMABAD, March 14, 2018: The Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability– Free and Fair Election Network (TDEA-FAFEN) launched the Pakistan’s most comprehensive election information portal “Election Pakistan” in a ceremony here on Wednesday. The purpose for developing such a unique and…

 
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FAFEN Finds Serious Disparities in Voter-to-Population Proportions Across Pakistan

FAFEN Finds Serious Disparities in Voter-to-Population Proportions Across Pakistan

Warns low-voter-to-population proportions may be indicative of high voter under-registration; demands age-wise population data be made public immediately ISLAMABAD, February 5, 2018: Identifying serious disparities in the distribution of voter-to-population proportions across the provinces and districts, Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has called upon the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to immediately publicly disclose…

 
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National Dialogue for Social and Political Consensus, demands FAFEN

ISLAMABAD, January 19, 2018: All democratic forces must initiate a grand national dialogue to reverse the dangerous trends of negativism, polarization and obscurantism. These trends are hindering the democratic developments and allowing rigid forces to reign social and political discourse and spheres in the country, says a declaration issued by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), here on Friday.

 
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Role of Civil Society in Minimizing Gender Deficit in Voters List is Imperative: ADG Election Commission

ISLAMABAD, December 6, 2017: The role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in minimizing the gender deficit in voters list is imperative, said Ms. Nighat Siddique, Additional Director General Gender Affairs, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) while inaugurating a workshop of CSOs that are gearing up to support the ECP’s campaign for Women’s National Identity Card (NIC) and voter registration across Pakistan.

 
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FAFEN Cautions against Deviations from Constitutional Framework

Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, 2017 All federating units must be allocated seats on basis of their population Calls for due diligence in the usage of provisional census results for delimitation ISLAMABAD, November 14, 2017: Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has expressed serious concerns over the ongoing efforts to amend the 1973 Constitution seeking deviation from…

 
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FAFEN Review and Recommendations on Elections Bill 2017

FAFEN Review and Recommendations on Elections Bill 2017

Enhance and clarify Election Commission’s powers Provide for measures to penalize public servants and persons in service of Pakistan under corrupt practices Withdraw regressive measures to curb transparency Improve procedure and transparency in appointment of caretaker governments Increase minority representation Define regional quota for women reserved representation Take measures to dilute political monopolies ISLAMABAD, August…

 
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15 Political Parties Show Reservations on Draft Elections Bill 2017 FAFEN Pakistan

15 Political Parties Show Reservations on Draft Elections Bill, 2017

Demand complete independence and autonomy of ECP in line with Constitution and SC judgements Recommend proportionate representation system, direct elections to Senate and reserved seats ISLAMABAD, January 26, 2017: Leaders of 15 political parties have expressed serious reservations over the Draft Elections Bill, 2017 and urged the government to initiate structured engagement with important political…

 
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Draft Elections Bill 2017

The Draft Elections Bill 2017 was laid down by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Election Reforms which prepared the document in two years’ consultative process for which its sub-committee, headed by Law Minister Zahid Hamid, met for 70 times. To download Draft Elections Bill 2017, click here …

 
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