FAFEN PRELIMINARYOBSERVATION REPORT

PUNJAB LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION PHASE-I

NOVEMBER 2015

1

An impressive number of people turned out to vote in the first phase of the Local Government Election in Punjab held in 12 districts. While relatively peaceful, the elections were marked by procedural irregularities and illegalities that continue to highlight weak grip of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on the enforcement of electoral processes. One of the most pronounced irregularities on the Election Day was the barrier on FAFEN's observation of both voting and the counting processes at the polling stations despite issuance of accreditation by the ECP.

While FAFEN's complete report will be released by the end of December, which will detail the scale of irregularities and illegalities from the entire sample, the preliminary report is meant to highlight certain trends as documented on the Election Day, which are indicative of the quality of the electoral process. However, these are FAFEN's preliminary findings and must not be generalized. They, at best, indicate the recurrent election irregularities that are observed in all elections, reflecting weak capacity of the ECP to enforce election laws and procedures on Election Day. The

report is being released with the purpose of influencing improvements in the second and third phases of Local Government elections which are due on November 19 and December 5 respectively in the two provinces and in Islamabad Capital Territory on November 30, 2015.

FAFEN's preliminary findings suggest that 177 (71%) of the 249 polling stations across 12 districts from where the information could be acquired reported various violations of the electoral procedures, including restrictions on independent observation of voting and counting processes, breach of secrecy of voting, canvassing inside polling stations, presence of security personnel inside polling stations and incidences of interference by security and election staff in the voting processes. FAFEN's observation was also curtailed due to arbitrary issuance of accreditation cards by District Returning Officers who provided these cards to only 757 observers against permission for 1,013 by the ECP.

The conduct of election itself is a step forward and significant in terms of deepening of democracy in

Executive Summary

These are FAFEN's preliminary findings

and must not be generalized. They, at

best, indicate the recurrent election

irregularities that are observed in all

elections, reflecting weak capacity of the

ECP to enforce election laws and

procedures on Election Day.

1

An impressive number of people turned out to vote in the first phase of the Local Government Election in Punjab held in 12 districts. While relatively peaceful, the elections were marked by procedural irregularities and illegalities that continue to highlight weak grip of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on the enforcement of electoral processes. One of the most pronounced irregularities on the Election Day was the barrier on FAFEN's observation of both voting and the counting processes at the polling stations despite issuance of accreditation by the ECP.

While FAFEN's complete report will be released by the end of December, which will detail the scale of irregularities and illegalities from the entire sample, the preliminary report is meant to highlight certain trends as documented on the Election Day, which are indicative of the quality of the electoral process. However, these are FAFEN's preliminary findings and must not be generalized. They, at best, indicate the recurrent election irregularities that are observed in all elections, reflecting weak capacity of the ECP to enforce election laws and procedures on Election Day. The

report is being released with the purpose of influencing improvements in the second and third phases of Local Government elections which are due on November 19 and December 5 respectively in the two provinces and in Islamabad Capital Territory on November 30, 2015.

FAFEN's preliminary findings suggest that 177 (71%) of the 249 polling stations across 12 districts from where the information could be acquired reported various violations of the electoral procedures, including restrictions on independent observation of voting and counting processes, breach of secrecy of voting, canvassing inside polling stations, presence of security personnel inside polling stations and incidences of interference by security and election staff in the voting processes. FAFEN's observation was also curtailed due to arbitrary issuance of accreditation cards by District Returning Officers who provided these cards to only 757 observers against permission for 1,013 by the ECP.

The conduct of election itself is a step forward and significant in terms of deepening of democracy in

Executive Summary

These are FAFEN's preliminary findings

and must not be generalized. They, at

best, indicate the recurrent election

irregularities that are observed in all

elections, reflecting weak capacity of the

ECP to enforce election laws and

procedures on Election Day.

2

Number of Observersby District

64Planned to be Deployed

35Actually Deployed

BAHAWALNAGAR 57Planned to be Deployed

42Actually Deployed

BHAKKAR

3

48Planned to be Deployed

48Actually Deployed

CHAKWAL 203Planned to be Deployed

119Actually Deployed

FAISALABAD

the country. The campaign that preceded the Election Day was competitive and relatively peaceful, although competing political actors continued to allege interference of the provincial government in the electoral processes through use of official machinery and finds allocated for development to woo voters. There has been little action by the ECP to enforce its Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Contesting Candidates which was promulgated well ahead of elections.

After a delay of almost ten years and following a series of orders and directions from superior courts, Punjab went to the local government elections. The largest province in terms of population and second largest in terms of area, the first phase of local government election was held in 12 districts – Chakwal, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Okara, Lodhran, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Lahore.

Though FAFEN had made a demand for phased election in

October 2013, the decision to hold a phased election came after the chaos and mismanagement that was witnessed in the local government election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Punjab election was distinct in its scale as polling was held in 9,468 wards of 1,578 union councils and 1,118 wards of 60 Municipal Committees of 12 districts in the first phase. However, the voters were only directly electing for two seats – general members for wards and joint candidates for chairmen and vice chairmen of union councils, and therefore, getting two ballot papers. The two reserved seats for women and one each for peasant/workers, minorities and youth will be filled through indirect election by eight directly elected members of the Union Councils. While this step might have been taken to smoothen the electoral process, it compromised the spirit of political emancipation through electoral participation of the excluded classes.

As many as 19,213 candidates

contested election on general seats for union councils while 639 were elected unopposed. In addition, 4,500 candidates contested election for chairmen/vice chairmen of union councils while 12 were elected unopposed. Similarly, 5,531 candidates contested from 1,118 wards for Municipal Committees whereas 21 were elected unopposed.

The local governments in Punjab are being established in pursuance of Article 140A of the Constitution, which requires the provinces to legislate to establish a local government system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to the elected representatives of the local governments. Punjab had done away with Punjab Local Governments Ordinance, 2001 (XIII of 2001) on August 23, 2013 when the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Local Government Act, 2013 (XVIII of 2013). The new legislation was largely modelled on Punjab Local Governments Ordinance 1979,

though some provisions from Punjab Local Governments Ordinance, 2001 were also incorporated. It introduces several levels of local governments including union councils, municipal committees, municipal corporations and metropolitan corporation as well as district level authorities for education and health. However, the law has not devolved any administrative office to the district level, vitiating the spirit of the Article 140A of the constitution.

Sub-clause 2 of the same Article makes Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) responsible for the conduct of the local government elections. This had created a confusing and chaotic situation, since a federal constitutional institution, which under Article 222, can only work under the laws provided by the Parliament, was made to work under laws provided by the provincial assemblies and rules drafted by the provincial local government department. The local government election, therefore, was subjected to a myriad of issues

between the ECP and provincial government, dotted with interventions and directions by superior courts over delimitations, voter registration, electoral procedures and relevant division of electoral responsibilities.

Although Punjab enacted the Punjab Local Government Act (PLGA) in September 2013, elections continued to be delayed due to legal wrangling and challenges that arose as a result of Article 140A (2) which empowered ECP to conduct these elections. The Punjab government initially agreed to hold the election in December 2013, but ECP termed the timeline unfeasible and sought further time for it to be prepared for these elections. Since then, the timelines were revised several times until the Supreme Court finally asserted in April 2015 and ordered that there be no further delay in the local elections. There have been six amendments to the PLGA since 2013. The seventh amendment was introduced shortly before the first phase of the election but was not passed by the Punjab Assembly.

Unlike the 2002 local government system introduced by the then military-led regime, the local government election in Punjab has been held on a party basis. Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf remain major contenders. However, Pakistan Peoples' Party has also fielded candidates, particularly strongly in the Mailsi Tehsil of Vehari district. Similarly, Pakistan Muslim League (Q) is specifically strong in Gujrat, while Pakistan Muslim League (Z) has robustly campaigned in Bahawalnagar. Jammat-i-Islami is also relevant to the local elections as it is one of the most organized parties at the grassroots level. The ECP, however, has not given any breakdown of candidates fielded by any political party.

2

Number of Observersby District

64Planned to be Deployed

35Actually Deployed

BAHAWALNAGAR 57Planned to be Deployed

42Actually Deployed

BHAKKAR

3

48Planned to be Deployed

48Actually Deployed

CHAKWAL 203Planned to be Deployed

119Actually Deployed

FAISALABAD

the country. The campaign that preceded the Election Day was competitive and relatively peaceful, although competing political actors continued to allege interference of the provincial government in the electoral processes through use of official machinery and finds allocated for development to woo voters. There has been little action by the ECP to enforce its Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Contesting Candidates which was promulgated well ahead of elections.

After a delay of almost ten years and following a series of orders and directions from superior courts, Punjab went to the local government elections. The largest province in terms of population and second largest in terms of area, the first phase of local government election was held in 12 districts – Chakwal, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Okara, Lodhran, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Lahore.

Though FAFEN had made a demand for phased election in

October 2013, the decision to hold a phased election came after the chaos and mismanagement that was witnessed in the local government election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Punjab election was distinct in its scale as polling was held in 9,468 wards of 1,578 union councils and 1,118 wards of 60 Municipal Committees of 12 districts in the first phase. However, the voters were only directly electing for two seats – general members for wards and joint candidates for chairmen and vice chairmen of union councils, and therefore, getting two ballot papers. The two reserved seats for women and one each for peasant/workers, minorities and youth will be filled through indirect election by eight directly elected members of the Union Councils. While this step might have been taken to smoothen the electoral process, it compromised the spirit of political emancipation through electoral participation of the excluded classes.

As many as 19,213 candidates

contested election on general seats for union councils while 639 were elected unopposed. In addition, 4,500 candidates contested election for chairmen/vice chairmen of union councils while 12 were elected unopposed. Similarly, 5,531 candidates contested from 1,118 wards for Municipal Committees whereas 21 were elected unopposed.

The local governments in Punjab are being established in pursuance of Article 140A of the Constitution, which requires the provinces to legislate to establish a local government system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to the elected representatives of the local governments. Punjab had done away with Punjab Local Governments Ordinance, 2001 (XIII of 2001) on August 23, 2013 when the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Local Government Act, 2013 (XVIII of 2013). The new legislation was largely modelled on Punjab Local Governments Ordinance 1979,

though some provisions from Punjab Local Governments Ordinance, 2001 were also incorporated. It introduces several levels of local governments including union councils, municipal committees, municipal corporations and metropolitan corporation as well as district level authorities for education and health. However, the law has not devolved any administrative office to the district level, vitiating the spirit of the Article 140A of the constitution.

Sub-clause 2 of the same Article makes Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) responsible for the conduct of the local government elections. This had created a confusing and chaotic situation, since a federal constitutional institution, which under Article 222, can only work under the laws provided by the Parliament, was made to work under laws provided by the provincial assemblies and rules drafted by the provincial local government department. The local government election, therefore, was subjected to a myriad of issues

between the ECP and provincial government, dotted with interventions and directions by superior courts over delimitations, voter registration, electoral procedures and relevant division of electoral responsibilities.

Although Punjab enacted the Punjab Local Government Act (PLGA) in September 2013, elections continued to be delayed due to legal wrangling and challenges that arose as a result of Article 140A (2) which empowered ECP to conduct these elections. The Punjab government initially agreed to hold the election in December 2013, but ECP termed the timeline unfeasible and sought further time for it to be prepared for these elections. Since then, the timelines were revised several times until the Supreme Court finally asserted in April 2015 and ordered that there be no further delay in the local elections. There have been six amendments to the PLGA since 2013. The seventh amendment was introduced shortly before the first phase of the election but was not passed by the Punjab Assembly.

Unlike the 2002 local government system introduced by the then military-led regime, the local government election in Punjab has been held on a party basis. Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf remain major contenders. However, Pakistan Peoples' Party has also fielded candidates, particularly strongly in the Mailsi Tehsil of Vehari district. Similarly, Pakistan Muslim League (Q) is specifically strong in Gujrat, while Pakistan Muslim League (Z) has robustly campaigned in Bahawalnagar. Jammat-i-Islami is also relevant to the local elections as it is one of the most organized parties at the grassroots level. The ECP, however, has not given any breakdown of candidates fielded by any political party.

4

85Planned to be Deployed

85Actually Deployed

GUJRAT

88Planned to be Deployed

54Actually Deployed

KASUR

5

147Planned to be Deployed

100Actually Deployed

LAHORE

47Planned to be Deployed

47Actually Deployed

LODHRAN

Scope and Methodology of FAFEN Observation1The purpose of FAFEN's observation is to systematically document electoral irregularities through direct observation in order to produce non-partisan, independent and evidence-based reports on the quality of voting, counting and consolidation processes and suggest recommendations for reforms to improve the quality of future elections. FAFEN strives towards achieving a transparent and accountable election system that enables citizens and candidates to vote and contest freely without any inducement and fear, guarantees equal representation and strengthens democracy in Pakistan.

The observation is conducted in strict compliance with the ECP's Code of Conduct for Observers and FAFEN's own code, which requires observers to be non-partisan, autonomous, independent and accurate in their observations. All

observers are required to sign a legal undertaking about their independence and non-partisanship before being incorporated for observation. According to ECP's latest instructions which were passed on to FAFEN at its meeting with ECP officials on October 30, 2015, observers may also be summoned as witnesses in any administrative and judicial proceedings. Additionally, ECP has also instructed FAFEN to ensure that observers have their accreditation cards signed by the Presiding Officers of the polling stations they observe. FAFEN will return all the accreditation cards to the ECP as proof that the polling stations were indeed observed.

FAFEN observers are volunteer citizens of Pakistan who are trained at a day-long training session which exhaustively covers laws and rules that deal with voting, counting and

consolidation processes. The observers are provided checklists based on electoral laws and rules to ensure that observations are documented uniformly, minimizing subjectivity and enhancing accuracy. Moreover, observers are barred from talking to media in line with the ECP Code. Only authorized personnel of FAFEN are allowed to speak to media.

For this election, FAFEN held three trainings across the province on technical and procedural aspects of voting and counting processes based on the PLGA 2013, amended in 2015. FAFEN actually planned to deploy 1,013 observers – 724 males and 289 females – to observe 3,976 polling stations located in 696 union councils of 11 districts, 147 unions councils of Lahore Metropolitan Corporation and 604 wards of 60 municipal committees to be established in these districts. Each observer was required to

observe at least four polling stations in every sampled union council and one in each ward. Observers spent at least an hour in every polling station to document their observation at three levels—polling environment outside polling stations, voting processes inside polling stations and voting environment in each booth of a polling station. District wise breakdown of the observers deployed is table 1.

To complement its direct observation, FAFEN set up a call center where 24 agents collected information from observers throughout Election Day. In addition, a media monitoring cell was also set up. This preliminary report is based on the information collected from the observers as well as media monitoring. However, both information sources are classified and analyzed separately.

District Observers Planned to be Deployed

Male Female Total

Bahawalnagar 64 27 91

Bhakkar 29 28 57

Chakwal 28 20 48

Faisalabad 127 76 203

Gujrat 79 6 85

Kasur 72 16 88

Lahore 101 46 147

Lodhran 46 1 47

Nankana Sahib 44 4 48

Okara 64 29 93

Pakpattan 27 13 40

Vehari 43 23 66

Total 724 289 1013

Table 1: District wise breakdown of the observers deployed

The observation is conducted in strict compliance with the ECP's Code of Conduct for

Observers and FAFEN's own code, which requires observers to be non-partisan,

autonomous, independent and accurate in their observations.

4

85Planned to be Deployed

85Actually Deployed

GUJRAT

88Planned to be Deployed

54Actually Deployed

KASUR

5

147Planned to be Deployed

100Actually Deployed

LAHORE

47Planned to be Deployed

47Actually Deployed

LODHRAN

Scope and Methodology of FAFEN Observation1The purpose of FAFEN's observation is to systematically document electoral irregularities through direct observation in order to produce non-partisan, independent and evidence-based reports on the quality of voting, counting and consolidation processes and suggest recommendations for reforms to improve the quality of future elections. FAFEN strives towards achieving a transparent and accountable election system that enables citizens and candidates to vote and contest freely without any inducement and fear, guarantees equal representation and strengthens democracy in Pakistan.

The observation is conducted in strict compliance with the ECP's Code of Conduct for Observers and FAFEN's own code, which requires observers to be non-partisan, autonomous, independent and accurate in their observations. All

observers are required to sign a legal undertaking about their independence and non-partisanship before being incorporated for observation. According to ECP's latest instructions which were passed on to FAFEN at its meeting with ECP officials on October 30, 2015, observers may also be summoned as witnesses in any administrative and judicial proceedings. Additionally, ECP has also instructed FAFEN to ensure that observers have their accreditation cards signed by the Presiding Officers of the polling stations they observe. FAFEN will return all the accreditation cards to the ECP as proof that the polling stations were indeed observed.

FAFEN observers are volunteer citizens of Pakistan who are trained at a day-long training session which exhaustively covers laws and rules that deal with voting, counting and

consolidation processes. The observers are provided checklists based on electoral laws and rules to ensure that observations are documented uniformly, minimizing subjectivity and enhancing accuracy. Moreover, observers are barred from talking to media in line with the ECP Code. Only authorized personnel of FAFEN are allowed to speak to media.

For this election, FAFEN held three trainings across the province on technical and procedural aspects of voting and counting processes based on the PLGA 2013, amended in 2015. FAFEN actually planned to deploy 1,013 observers – 724 males and 289 females – to observe 3,976 polling stations located in 696 union councils of 11 districts, 147 unions councils of Lahore Metropolitan Corporation and 604 wards of 60 municipal committees to be established in these districts. Each observer was required to

observe at least four polling stations in every sampled union council and one in each ward. Observers spent at least an hour in every polling station to document their observation at three levels—polling environment outside polling stations, voting processes inside polling stations and voting environment in each booth of a polling station. District wise breakdown of the observers deployed is table 1.

To complement its direct observation, FAFEN set up a call center where 24 agents collected information from observers throughout Election Day. In addition, a media monitoring cell was also set up. This preliminary report is based on the information collected from the observers as well as media monitoring. However, both information sources are classified and analyzed separately.

District Observers Planned to be Deployed

Male Female Total

Bahawalnagar 64 27 91

Bhakkar 29 28 57

Chakwal 28 20 48

Faisalabad 127 76 203

Gujrat 79 6 85

Kasur 72 16 88

Lahore 101 46 147

Lodhran 46 1 47

Nankana Sahib 44 4 48

Okara 64 29 93

Pakpattan 27 13 40

Vehari 43 23 66

Total 724 289 1013

Table 1: District wise breakdown of the observers deployed

The observation is conducted in strict compliance with the ECP's Code of Conduct for

Observers and FAFEN's own code, which requires observers to be non-partisan,

autonomous, independent and accurate in their observations.

6

48Planned to be Deployed

48Actually Deployed

NANKANASAHIB

93Planned to be Deployed

93Actually Deployed

OKARA

7

40Planned to be Deployed

20Actually Deployed

PAKPATTAN

66Planned to be Deployed

66Actually Deployed

VEHARI

The first phase of elections was organized in 12 of the 36 districts of the province for 12,146 constituencies. The process involved direct elections for 10,586 general and 1,578 Chairmen and Vice Chairmen seats.

Among the general seats contested, 9,468 fall in 1,578 union councils, while the rest, i.e. 1,118 constitute the prescribed general seats in as many as 60 municipal committees.

It is pertinent to note that 1,135 of the 1,578 union councils constitute 11 district councils in as many districts – Lahore being the only one where district councils are not established. The remaining 443 union councils fall in the urban areas of all 12 districts, including Lahore's 274, where elections were organized in the first phase.

For the 10,586 seats, 34,552 candidates had their nominations accepted. As shown in the table

above, the bulk of these candidates, i.e. 19,852, were contesting for 6,810 general seats of 1,135 rural union councils while 9,142 candidates were in the race for 2,658 general seats of 443 urban union councils. The rest of the candidates, i.e. 5,546 were vying for 1,118 seats in 60 municipal committees.

In addition to the general seats, direct elections for chairmen and vice chairmen of all union councils were organized on joint candidature basis for the two positions. In effect, elections were held for the combined candidature for both chairmen and vice chairman for all 1,578 union councils – 1,135 rural and 443 urban union councils. The chairmen and vice chairmen of

Constituencies and Contestants2

1,135 443 60

6,810

2,6581,118

19,852

9,142

5,546

Rural Union Councils Urban Union Councils Municipal Committees

LG Tier

Number of Ucs General member seats Valid candidates

municipal committees, unlike union councils, will be elected indirectly by their respective directly elected general members and other members indirectly elected on reserved seats for women, workers, youth and technocrats.

The 1,578 chairmen/vice chairmen joint constituencies of as many union councils attracted the interest of 6,323 joint candidacies. Of these, 4,512 contested for 1,135 rural while 1,811 contested for 443 urban union councils.

A significant number of the constituencies, i.e. 774, at various tiers returned candidates

Unopposed Returned Candidates

unopposed. Of these, chairmen and vice chairmen of 16 union councils were returned without any contest.

In addition, a total of 758 candidates contesting on general seats were returned without any competition. Of these, 737 were returned on general seats of union councils – 639 seats of rural and 21 of urban union councils. The trend was also witnessed in the election for municipal committees where 21 candidates were returned without contest from as many wards.

Barring 774 constituencies where candidates were returned unopposed, as many as 33,794 candidates contested on 9,828 general seats and 6,307 candidacies vied for 1,562 chairmen

Contested Seats

and vice chairmen joint candidature constituencies of union councils.

Among the general seats, the largest number of candidates, i.e. 19,213, contested for 6,171 general seats of 1,135 rural union councils. Furthermore, as many as 9,050 candidates contested for 2,560 general seats of 443 urban union councils.

In addition to the candidates contesting for union council seats, 5,531 candidates contested 1,097 seats spread across 60 municipal committees in 11 of the 12 districts where elections were held.

In addition to general seats, voters cast their vote for 6,307 joint candidatures of chairmen and vice chairmen for as many as 1,562

LG Tier

Chairman and Vice

Chairmen Seats

Candidates (Joint

Candidature)

Rural Union Councils

1,135

4,512

Urban Union Councils

443

1,811

Total

1,578

6,323

LG Tier

General Seats

Chairman/Vice Chairmen Seats

Unopposed

Rural Union Councils

639

12

Urban Union Councils

98

4

Municipal Committees

21

NA

Total Uncontested 758 16

LG Tier General

Seats Contested

Chairmen Seats

Contested

General Seat

Candidates

Chairmen Seat

Candidates Rural Union Councils 6,171 1,123 19,213 4,500 Urban Union Councils 2,560 439 9,050 1,807 Municipal Committees

1,097

Na

5,531

Na

Total

9,828

1,562

33,794

6,307

6

48Planned to be Deployed

48Actually Deployed

NANKANASAHIB

93Planned to be Deployed

93Actually Deployed

OKARA

7

40Planned to be Deployed

20Actually Deployed

PAKPATTAN

66Planned to be Deployed

66Actually Deployed

VEHARI

The first phase of elections was organized in 12 of the 36 districts of the province for 12,146 constituencies. The process involved direct elections for 10,586 general and 1,578 Chairmen and Vice Chairmen seats.

Among the general seats contested, 9,468 fall in 1,578 union councils, while the rest, i.e. 1,118 constitute the prescribed general seats in as many as 60 municipal committees.

It is pertinent to note that 1,135 of the 1,578 union councils constitute 11 district councils in as many districts – Lahore being the only one where district councils are not established. The remaining 443 union councils fall in the urban areas of all 12 districts, including Lahore's 274, where elections were organized in the first phase.

For the 10,586 seats, 34,552 candidates had their nominations accepted. As shown in the table

above, the bulk of these candidates, i.e. 19,852, were contesting for 6,810 general seats of 1,135 rural union councils while 9,142 candidates were in the race for 2,658 general seats of 443 urban union councils. The rest of the candidates, i.e. 5,546 were vying for 1,118 seats in 60 municipal committees.

In addition to the general seats, direct elections for chairmen and vice chairmen of all union councils were organized on joint candidature basis for the two positions. In effect, elections were held for the combined candidature for both chairmen and vice chairman for all 1,578 union councils – 1,135 rural and 443 urban union councils. The chairmen and vice chairmen of

Constituencies and Contestants2

1,135 443 60

6,810

2,6581,118

19,852

9,142

5,546

Rural Union Councils Urban Union Councils Municipal Committees

LG Tier

Number of Ucs General member seats Valid candidates

municipal committees, unlike union councils, will be elected indirectly by their respective directly elected general members and other members indirectly elected on reserved seats for women, workers, youth and technocrats.

The 1,578 chairmen/vice chairmen joint constituencies of as many union councils attracted the interest of 6,323 joint candidacies. Of these, 4,512 contested for 1,135 rural while 1,811 contested for 443 urban union councils.

A significant number of the constituencies, i.e. 774, at various tiers returned candidates

Unopposed Returned Candidates

unopposed. Of these, chairmen and vice chairmen of 16 union councils were returned without any contest.

In addition, a total of 758 candidates contesting on general seats were returned without any competition. Of these, 737 were returned on general seats of union councils – 639 seats of rural and 21 of urban union councils. The trend was also witnessed in the election for municipal committees where 21 candidates were returned without contest from as many wards.

Barring 774 constituencies where candidates were returned unopposed, as many as 33,794 candidates contested on 9,828 general seats and 6,307 candidacies vied for 1,562 chairmen

Contested Seats

and vice chairmen joint candidature constituencies of union councils.

Among the general seats, the largest number of candidates, i.e. 19,213, contested for 6,171 general seats of 1,135 rural union councils. Furthermore, as many as 9,050 candidates contested for 2,560 general seats of 443 urban union councils.

In addition to the candidates contesting for union council seats, 5,531 candidates contested 1,097 seats spread across 60 municipal committees in 11 of the 12 districts where elections were held.

In addition to general seats, voters cast their vote for 6,307 joint candidatures of chairmen and vice chairmen for as many as 1,562

LG Tier

Chairman and Vice

Chairmen Seats

Candidates (Joint

Candidature)

Rural Union Councils

1,135

4,512

Urban Union Councils

443

1,811

Total

1,578

6,323

LG Tier

General Seats

Chairman/Vice Chairmen Seats

Unopposed

Rural Union Councils

639

12

Urban Union Councils

98

4

Municipal Committees

21

NA

Total Uncontested 758 16

LG Tier General

Seats Contested

Chairmen Seats

Contested

General Seat

Candidates

Chairmen Seat

Candidates Rural Union Councils 6,171 1,123 19,213 4,500 Urban Union Councils 2,560 439 9,050 1,807 Municipal Committees

1,097

Na

5,531

Na

Total

9,828

1,562

33,794

6,307

8 9

Union Councils. Of these, 4,500 joint candidatures of chairmen and vice chairmen contested for 1,123

rural union councils of 11 districts. The remaining 1,807 joint candidates for chairmen and vice chairmen contested for 439 urban union councils spread across all 12 districts.

Participation of women and non-Muslim candidates on general seats remained extremely low. Only 102 women contested the general seats of union councils and municipal committees. There were 15 women contestants in the competition for seat of chairperson of union council while 7 competed

Women and Non-Muslim Participation

for vice chairperson seats. Women's continued under representation cannot be overstated when the numbers are compared against the overall number of candidates. In essence, the total number of women candidates, i.e. 124, constitutes a miniscule 0.3% of the overall number of candidates, i.e. 40,101 candidates for all seats.

The non-Muslim candidates, interestingly, had more contestants in the field compared to women. As many as 156 non-Muslim candidates contested on general seats of union council and municipal committees. Non-Muslims candidates, 18 in total, were in contention for chairmen

Contestants

102 156

WOMEN NON-MUSLIMGeneral Seats

15 18

Chairperson ofUnion Councils

7 30

Vice Chairpersonof Union Councils

District

Registered Voters in General Election

2013

Registered Voters in Local Government Election

2015

Percentage Change

Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Overall

Chakwal

490,256

439,491

929,747

529,182

480,765

1,009,947

7.90%

9.40%

8.60% Bhakkar

398,581

313,343

711,924

430,466

334,705

765,171

8.00%

6.80%

7.50%

Faisalabad

2,045,789

1,577,570

3,623,359

2,219,126

1,725,419

3,944,545

8.50%

9.40%

8.90%

Gujrat

883,043

698,357

1,581,400

957,224

769,536

1,726,760

8.40%

10.20%

9.20%

Okara

784,195

612,616

1,396,811

846,700

660,546

1,507,246

8.00%

7.80%

7.90%

Lodhran

408,246

318,931

727,177

453,722

363,723

817,445

11.10%

14.00%

12.40%

Pakpattan

452,136

371,385

823,521

496,050

402,094

898,144

9.70%

8.30%

9.10%

Vehari 737,403 548,168 1,285,571 812,106 618,586 1,430,692 10.10% 12.80% 11.30%

Bahawalnagar 728,137 535,941 1,264,078 793,201 594,664 1,387,865 8.90% 11.00% 9.80% Nankana Sahib

1,146,749 818,216 1,964,965 388,973 287,614 676,587 - - -

Kasur 3,371,083 2,517,678 5,888,761

930,980 683,062 1,614,042 - - -

Lahore 2,453,182 1,853,703 4,306,885 - - -

seat of union council. In addition, as many as 30 non-Muslim candidates were running for vice chairmen seat of union council. While the number of non-Muslim candidates is reasonably higher than the number of women candidates, the number is a meagre 0.5% of the overall number of candidates.

There was a slight decrease of 0.6% in the number of registered voters in 12 districts for first phase of local government election in Punjab compared to the General Election 2013. The number of registered voters decreased from 20,197,314

Voter Statistics

(8,751,696 female and 11,445,618 male) in 2013 to 20,085,329 (8,774,417 female and 11,310,912 male) in 2015.

Apart from these two constituencies, registered voters in all constituencies witnessed an increase. Number of registered voters in Chakwal increased 8.6% from 929,747 in 2013 to 1,009,947 in 2015. The highest increase in number of registered voters was seen in Lodhran where it rose by 12.4% from 727,177 in GE-2013 to 817,445 in LGE-2015, followed by Vehari, where the number of registered voters increased 11.3% from 1,285,571 in 2013 to 1,430,692

in 2015. The table below shows district-wise comparison of registered voters.

ECP established 16,266 polling stations across the 12 districts where election took place during the first phase, averaging at 1,235 voters per polling station. Although the highest number of registered voters was in Lahore, the highest number of polling stations was established in Faisalabad. A total of 3,915 polling stations were established in Faisalabad for 3,944,545 voters, averaging at 1,008 voters per polling station, whereas

Polling Stations

District Highly Sensitive PS Sensitive PS Normal PS Total PS Registered Voters Avg. Voters/PS

Lahore 839 2,430 0 3,269 4,306,885 1,317

Faisalabad 1,029 2,877 9 3,915 3,944,545 1,008

Gujrat 182 0 1,068 1,250 1,726,760 1,381

Chakwal 265 558 0 823 1,009,947 1,227

Bhakkar 53 160 378 591 765,171 1,295

Nankana Sahib 125 131 351 607 676,587 1,115

Kasur 265 224 761 1,250 1,614,042 1,291

Pakpattan 250 0 433 683 898,144 1,315

Okara 99 1,015 1 1,115 1,507,246 1,352

Lodhran 121 0 455 576 817,445 1,419 Vehari 274 811 0 1,085 1,430,692 1,319

Bahawalnagar 49 94 959 1,102 1,387,865 1,259 Total 3,551 8,300 4,415 16,266 20,085,329 1,235

8 9

Union Councils. Of these, 4,500 joint candidatures of chairmen and vice chairmen contested for 1,123

rural union councils of 11 districts. The remaining 1,807 joint candidates for chairmen and vice chairmen contested for 439 urban union councils spread across all 12 districts.

Participation of women and non-Muslim candidates on general seats remained extremely low. Only 102 women contested the general seats of union councils and municipal committees. There were 15 women contestants in the competition for seat of chairperson of union council while 7 competed

Women and Non-Muslim Participation

for vice chairperson seats. Women's continued under representation cannot be overstated when the numbers are compared against the overall number of candidates. In essence, the total number of women candidates, i.e. 124, constitutes a miniscule 0.3% of the overall number of candidates, i.e. 40,101 candidates for all seats.

The non-Muslim candidates, interestingly, had more contestants in the field compared to women. As many as 156 non-Muslim candidates contested on general seats of union council and municipal committees. Non-Muslims candidates, 18 in total, were in contention for chairmen

Contestants

102 156

WOMEN NON-MUSLIMGeneral Seats

15 18

Chairperson ofUnion Councils

7 30

Vice Chairpersonof Union Councils

District

Registered Voters in General Election

2013

Registered Voters in Local Government Election

2015

Percentage Change

Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Overall

Chakwal

490,256

439,491

929,747

529,182

480,765

1,009,947

7.90%

9.40%

8.60% Bhakkar

398,581

313,343

711,924

430,466

334,705

765,171

8.00%

6.80%

7.50%

Faisalabad

2,045,789

1,577,570

3,623,359

2,219,126

1,725,419

3,944,545

8.50%

9.40%

8.90%

Gujrat

883,043

698,357

1,581,400

957,224

769,536

1,726,760

8.40%

10.20%

9.20%

Okara

784,195

612,616

1,396,811

846,700

660,546

1,507,246

8.00%

7.80%

7.90%

Lodhran

408,246

318,931

727,177

453,722

363,723

817,445

11.10%

14.00%

12.40%

Pakpattan

452,136

371,385

823,521

496,050

402,094

898,144

9.70%

8.30%

9.10%

Vehari 737,403 548,168 1,285,571 812,106 618,586 1,430,692 10.10% 12.80% 11.30%

Bahawalnagar 728,137 535,941 1,264,078 793,201 594,664 1,387,865 8.90% 11.00% 9.80% Nankana Sahib

1,146,749 818,216 1,964,965 388,973 287,614 676,587 - - -

Kasur 3,371,083 2,517,678 5,888,761

930,980 683,062 1,614,042 - - -

Lahore 2,453,182 1,853,703 4,306,885 - - -

seat of union council. In addition, as many as 30 non-Muslim candidates were running for vice chairmen seat of union council. While the number of non-Muslim candidates is reasonably higher than the number of women candidates, the number is a meagre 0.5% of the overall number of candidates.

There was a slight decrease of 0.6% in the number of registered voters in 12 districts for first phase of local government election in Punjab compared to the General Election 2013. The number of registered voters decreased from 20,197,314

Voter Statistics

(8,751,696 female and 11,445,618 male) in 2013 to 20,085,329 (8,774,417 female and 11,310,912 male) in 2015.

Apart from these two constituencies, registered voters in all constituencies witnessed an increase. Number of registered voters in Chakwal increased 8.6% from 929,747 in 2013 to 1,009,947 in 2015. The highest increase in number of registered voters was seen in Lodhran where it rose by 12.4% from 727,177 in GE-2013 to 817,445 in LGE-2015, followed by Vehari, where the number of registered voters increased 11.3% from 1,285,571 in 2013 to 1,430,692

in 2015. The table below shows district-wise comparison of registered voters.

ECP established 16,266 polling stations across the 12 districts where election took place during the first phase, averaging at 1,235 voters per polling station. Although the highest number of registered voters was in Lahore, the highest number of polling stations was established in Faisalabad. A total of 3,915 polling stations were established in Faisalabad for 3,944,545 voters, averaging at 1,008 voters per polling station, whereas

Polling Stations

District Highly Sensitive PS Sensitive PS Normal PS Total PS Registered Voters Avg. Voters/PS

Lahore 839 2,430 0 3,269 4,306,885 1,317

Faisalabad 1,029 2,877 9 3,915 3,944,545 1,008

Gujrat 182 0 1,068 1,250 1,726,760 1,381

Chakwal 265 558 0 823 1,009,947 1,227

Bhakkar 53 160 378 591 765,171 1,295

Nankana Sahib 125 131 351 607 676,587 1,115

Kasur 265 224 761 1,250 1,614,042 1,291

Pakpattan 250 0 433 683 898,144 1,315

Okara 99 1,015 1 1,115 1,507,246 1,352

Lodhran 121 0 455 576 817,445 1,419 Vehari 274 811 0 1,085 1,430,692 1,319

Bahawalnagar 49 94 959 1,102 1,387,865 1,259 Total 3,551 8,300 4,415 16,266 20,085,329 1,235

10 11

Major Observation Findings3Restrictions on ObservationUnlike local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where ECP and the KPK government were forthcoming in providing access to FAFEN observers, the process of accreditation for local government and Punjab was strewn with obstacles. To FAFEN's request for accreditation of its observers sent to ECP on October 5, 2015, ECP responded as late as October 22, 2015 that the accreditation could only be provided after the security clearance of more than 3,500 observers, which was an impossible task. The same condition, according to media reports, was also imposed on the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). However, ECP decision was criticized by all major political parties including PML-N, PPP, PML-Q, PTI and MQM, which said independent observation must be allowed as it provides unbiased information about the electoral processes.

The ECP, however, was open to hear out FAFEN's concerns about the requirement of security clearance and gave it an alternative, manageable option of furnishing an institutional undertaking taking responsibility of the character,

security and non-partisanship of its observers. Subsequent to the provision of the undertaking, ECP issued permission to FAFEN to observe the elections on the evening of October 29, 2015, only two days before the election. FAFEN acknowledges the support of ECP Secretary Babar Yaqub Fateh Muhammad, Additional Secretary Fida Muhammad, Director General Public Relations Iftikhar Raja, Director Public Relations Altaf Ahmed and Deputy Director Public Relations Khurshid Alam to be available round the clock to ensure that FAFEN observers are provided the required cards from District Returning Officers.

3,269 polling stations were established for 4,306,885 registered voters in Lahore, averaging at 1,317 voters per polling station. Similarly, for 1,726,760 voters registered in Gujrat, 1,250 polling stations were established,

taking the average voters per polling station to 1,381. The table below shows the number of polling stations established in each district and the average voters per polling station.

Despite permission to FAFEN to deploy 1,103 observers, FAFEN could only acquire accreditation for 757 observers. Despite active support of ECP officials, DROs in five districts issued accreditation cards to FAFEN observers only on the Election Day. These districts included Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Kasur, Nankana Sahib and Faisalabad. This wasted almost half of the observers' time that could otherwise have been invested in the observation. The table 1a presents district-wise breakdown of accreditation that FAFEN could acquire for its observers.

Table 1a: District-wise Breakdown of Accreditation

Districts Planned to be deployed Actually Deployed

Bahawalnagar 64 35 Bhakkar 57 42 Chakwal 48 48 Faisalabad

203

119

Gujrat

85

85

Kasur

88

54

Lahore

147

100

Lodhran

47

47 Nankana Sahib

48

48

Okara

93

93

Pakpattan

40

20

Vehari

66

66

Total

1013

757

4.31

3.94

1.731.01

0.77

0.68

1.61

0.90

1.51

0.82

1.43

1.39

Registered Voters in Million

Chakwal Bhakkar Nankana Sahib

Lahore Faisalabad Gujrat

Kasur Pakpattan Okara

Lodhran Vehari Bahawalnagar

10 11

Major Observation Findings3Restrictions on ObservationUnlike local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where ECP and the KPK government were forthcoming in providing access to FAFEN observers, the process of accreditation for local government and Punjab was strewn with obstacles. To FAFEN's request for accreditation of its observers sent to ECP on October 5, 2015, ECP responded as late as October 22, 2015 that the accreditation could only be provided after the security clearance of more than 3,500 observers, which was an impossible task. The same condition, according to media reports, was also imposed on the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). However, ECP decision was criticized by all major political parties including PML-N, PPP, PML-Q, PTI and MQM, which said independent observation must be allowed as it provides unbiased information about the electoral processes.

The ECP, however, was open to hear out FAFEN's concerns about the requirement of security clearance and gave it an alternative, manageable option of furnishing an institutional undertaking taking responsibility of the character,

security and non-partisanship of its observers. Subsequent to the provision of the undertaking, ECP issued permission to FAFEN to observe the elections on the evening of October 29, 2015, only two days before the election. FAFEN acknowledges the support of ECP Secretary Babar Yaqub Fateh Muhammad, Additional Secretary Fida Muhammad, Director General Public Relations Iftikhar Raja, Director Public Relations Altaf Ahmed and Deputy Director Public Relations Khurshid Alam to be available round the clock to ensure that FAFEN observers are provided the required cards from District Returning Officers.

3,269 polling stations were established for 4,306,885 registered voters in Lahore, averaging at 1,317 voters per polling station. Similarly, for 1,726,760 voters registered in Gujrat, 1,250 polling stations were established,

taking the average voters per polling station to 1,381. The table below shows the number of polling stations established in each district and the average voters per polling station.

Despite permission to FAFEN to deploy 1,103 observers, FAFEN could only acquire accreditation for 757 observers. Despite active support of ECP officials, DROs in five districts issued accreditation cards to FAFEN observers only on the Election Day. These districts included Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Kasur, Nankana Sahib and Faisalabad. This wasted almost half of the observers' time that could otherwise have been invested in the observation. The table 1a presents district-wise breakdown of accreditation that FAFEN could acquire for its observers.

Table 1a: District-wise Breakdown of Accreditation

Districts Planned to be deployed Actually Deployed

Bahawalnagar 64 35 Bhakkar 57 42 Chakwal 48 48 Faisalabad

203

119

Gujrat

85

85

Kasur

88

54

Lahore

147

100

Lodhran

47

47 Nankana Sahib

48

48

Okara

93

93

Pakpattan

40

20

Vehari

66

66

Total

1013

757

4.31

3.94

1.731.01

0.77

0.68

1.61

0.90

1.51

0.82

1.43

1.39

Registered Voters in Million

Chakwal Bhakkar Nankana Sahib

Lahore Faisalabad Gujrat

Kasur Pakpattan Okara

Lodhran Vehari Bahawalnagar

12 13

FAFEN observers were barred from observing the voting processes at 5.6% percent of a total of 249 polling stations from where the data could be acquired on the Election Day. Although carrying the requisite accreditation cards issued by the ECP, the observers were barred from entering the polling stations by police as well as election officials. As many as 10 percent of observers were barred from observing in Nankana Sahib and Bhakkar each, 7.5 percent in Kasur, 7.4 percent in Lahore, 7.1 percent in Okara, 6.7 percent in Bahawalnagar, 5.6 percent in Gujrat and 4.5 percent in Vehari. However, FAFEN observers in Pakpattan, Lodhran, Faisalabad and Chakwal did not face restriction in the observation of the voting process.

District Total numbers of

observers deployed

Total number of observers Contacted

Barred from Observation

Total number of observers Reported

Bahawalnagar 91 16 1 15

Bhakkar 42 22 2 20

Chakwal 48 16 1 15

Faisalabad 201 12 12

Gujrat 82 20 2 18

Kasur 89 42 2 40

Lahore 147 35 8 27

Lodhran 47 20 1 19

Nankana Sahib 47 11 1 10

Okara 94 45 3 42

Pakpattan 40 9 9

Vehari 66 23 1 22

Total 994 271 22 249

Table 1b: Restrictions on Observation of Voting Process

However, the restrictions on the observation of counting processes were wider. Observers were reported to be banned from observing counting process at 35 of the 249 polling stations from where the Election Day reports were gathered. The district-wise breakdown shows that at 37% polling stations of Lahore, FAFEN observers were not allowed to observe the counting process. Furthermore, the observers were also barred from observing the counting process in 40% polling stations of Chakwal, 16.7% in Faisalabad, 14.3% of Okara, 13.6% in Vehari, 11.1% in Pakpattan, 10.5% in Lodhran, 10% in Nankana Sahib, 7.5% in Kasur and 5.6% in Gujrat.

Table 1c: Restrictions on Observation of Voting Process

District Total Number of Polling

Station Reporting on Election day

Total Number of Polling Stations where Violations

were Reported Percent

Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

Chakwal 15 6 40.0%

Faisalabad 12 2 16.7%

Gujrat 18 1 5.6%

Kasur 40 3 7.5%

Lahore 27 10 37.0%

Lodhran 19 2 10.5%

Nankana Sahib 10 1 10.0%

Okara 42 6 14.3%

Pakpattan 9 1 11.1%

Vehari 22 3 13.6%

Total 249 35 14.1%

12 13

FAFEN observers were barred from observing the voting processes at 5.6% percent of a total of 249 polling stations from where the data could be acquired on the Election Day. Although carrying the requisite accreditation cards issued by the ECP, the observers were barred from entering the polling stations by police as well as election officials. As many as 10 percent of observers were barred from observing in Nankana Sahib and Bhakkar each, 7.5 percent in Kasur, 7.4 percent in Lahore, 7.1 percent in Okara, 6.7 percent in Bahawalnagar, 5.6 percent in Gujrat and 4.5 percent in Vehari. However, FAFEN observers in Pakpattan, Lodhran, Faisalabad and Chakwal did not face restriction in the observation of the voting process.

District Total numbers of

observers deployed

Total number of observers Contacted

Barred from Observation

Total number of observers Reported

Bahawalnagar 91 16 1 15

Bhakkar 42 22 2 20

Chakwal 48 16 1 15

Faisalabad 201 12 12

Gujrat 82 20 2 18

Kasur 89 42 2 40

Lahore 147 35 8 27

Lodhran 47 20 1 19

Nankana Sahib 47 11 1 10

Okara 94 45 3 42

Pakpattan 40 9 9

Vehari 66 23 1 22

Total 994 271 22 249

Table 1b: Restrictions on Observation of Voting Process

However, the restrictions on the observation of counting processes were wider. Observers were reported to be banned from observing counting process at 35 of the 249 polling stations from where the Election Day reports were gathered. The district-wise breakdown shows that at 37% polling stations of Lahore, FAFEN observers were not allowed to observe the counting process. Furthermore, the observers were also barred from observing the counting process in 40% polling stations of Chakwal, 16.7% in Faisalabad, 14.3% of Okara, 13.6% in Vehari, 11.1% in Pakpattan, 10.5% in Lodhran, 10% in Nankana Sahib, 7.5% in Kasur and 5.6% in Gujrat.

Table 1c: Restrictions on Observation of Voting Process

District Total Number of Polling

Station Reporting on Election day

Total Number of Polling Stations where Violations

were Reported Percent

Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

Chakwal 15 6 40.0%

Faisalabad 12 2 16.7%

Gujrat 18 1 5.6%

Kasur 40 3 7.5%

Lahore 27 10 37.0%

Lodhran 19 2 10.5%

Nankana Sahib 10 1 10.0%

Okara 42 6 14.3%

Pakpattan 9 1 11.1%

Vehari 22 3 13.6%

Total 249 35 14.1%

14 15

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Polling Stations Where Violations Were Reported

Percent

Bahawalnagar 15 1 6.7%

Bhakkar 20 2 10.0%

Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

Gujrat 18 1 5.6%

Kasur 40 3 7.5%

Lahore 27 2 7.4%

Lodhran 19 0 0.0%

Nankana Sahib 10 1 10.0%

Okara 42 3 7.1%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Vehari 22 1 4.5%

Total 249 14 5.6%

Election Day ViolenceOut of a total of 249 polling stations reporting on Election Day, incidences of violence were reported at 14 (5.6%) as depicted in the table below. The incidence of violence reported was not uniform across the 12 districts of Punjab. In fact, while in Bhakkar and Nankana Sahib, incidents of violence were reported from every 10th polling station, the number ranged between every 14th polling station in Lahore, Kasur and Okara to every 22nd polling station in Vehari. Meanwhile, the polling stations reporting on Election Day from Chakwal, Faisalabad, Lodhran and Pakpattan did not report any incidences of violence.

Table 2: Election Day Violence

Attendance of Polling OfficialsAttendance of polling officials did not appear to be a major issue in the polling station reporting on the Election Day As per the observation of 249 polling stations reporting on Election Day, only 1 (0.4%) reported absence of one or more officials in Kasur.

Table 3: Attendance of Polling Officials

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Polling Stations Where Violations Were

Reported Percent

Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

Gujrat 18 0 0.0%

Kasur 40 1 2.5%

Lahore 27 0 0.0%

Lodhran 19 0 0.0%

Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

Okara 42 0 0.0%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Vehari 22 0 0.0%

Total 249 1 0.4%

14 15

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Polling Stations Where Violations Were Reported

Percent

Bahawalnagar 15 1 6.7%

Bhakkar 20 2 10.0%

Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

Gujrat 18 1 5.6%

Kasur 40 3 7.5%

Lahore 27 2 7.4%

Lodhran 19 0 0.0%

Nankana Sahib 10 1 10.0%

Okara 42 3 7.1%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Vehari 22 1 4.5%

Total 249 14 5.6%

Election Day ViolenceOut of a total of 249 polling stations reporting on Election Day, incidences of violence were reported at 14 (5.6%) as depicted in the table below. The incidence of violence reported was not uniform across the 12 districts of Punjab. In fact, while in Bhakkar and Nankana Sahib, incidents of violence were reported from every 10th polling station, the number ranged between every 14th polling station in Lahore, Kasur and Okara to every 22nd polling station in Vehari. Meanwhile, the polling stations reporting on Election Day from Chakwal, Faisalabad, Lodhran and Pakpattan did not report any incidences of violence.

Table 2: Election Day Violence

Attendance of Polling OfficialsAttendance of polling officials did not appear to be a major issue in the polling station reporting on the Election Day As per the observation of 249 polling stations reporting on Election Day, only 1 (0.4%) reported absence of one or more officials in Kasur.

Table 3: Attendance of Polling Officials

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Polling Stations Where Violations Were

Reported Percent

Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

Gujrat 18 0 0.0%

Kasur 40 1 2.5%

Lahore 27 0 0.0%

Lodhran 19 0 0.0%

Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

Okara 42 0 0.0%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Vehari 22 0 0.0%

Total 249 1 0.4%

16 17

Opening of Polling StationsDelayed opening of polling stations was reported at 10 (4%) of polling stations from 4 districts across Punjab – Bahawalnagar, Lahore, Lodhran and Kasur ranging between 20% to 2.5% respectively. The remaining 239 polling stations reporting on Election Day from the other 8 districts did not report late opening.

Table 4: Opening of Polling Stations

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Polling Stations Where Violations Were

Reported Percent

Bahawalnagar 15 3 20.0%

Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

Gujrat 18 0 0.0%

Kasur 40 1 2.5%

Lahore 27 4 14.8%

Lodhran 19 2 10.5%

Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

Okara 42 0 0.0%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Vehari 22 0 0.0%

Total 249 10 4.0%

Availability of Election MaterialsThere were 249 polling stations from which the reports for availability of election materials on polling station was collected. Of these, only one of the 27 polling stations in Lahore was reported to be missing the required election material. All the other polling stations from where the reports were collected on the Election Day had the required election material available on time.

Table 5: Availability of Election Materials

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting Violation

Percentage

Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

Gujrat 18 0 0.0%

Kasur 40 0 0.0%

Lahore 27 1 3.7%

Lodhran 19 0 0.0%

Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

Okara 42 0 0.0%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Vehari 22 0 0.0%

Total 249 1 0.4%

16 17

Opening of Polling StationsDelayed opening of polling stations was reported at 10 (4%) of polling stations from 4 districts across Punjab – Bahawalnagar, Lahore, Lodhran and Kasur ranging between 20% to 2.5% respectively. The remaining 239 polling stations reporting on Election Day from the other 8 districts did not report late opening.

Table 4: Opening of Polling Stations

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Polling Stations Where Violations Were

Reported Percent

Bahawalnagar 15 3 20.0%

Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

Gujrat 18 0 0.0%

Kasur 40 1 2.5%

Lahore 27 4 14.8%

Lodhran 19 2 10.5%

Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

Okara 42 0 0.0%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Vehari 22 0 0.0%

Total 249 10 4.0%

Availability of Election MaterialsThere were 249 polling stations from which the reports for availability of election materials on polling station was collected. Of these, only one of the 27 polling stations in Lahore was reported to be missing the required election material. All the other polling stations from where the reports were collected on the Election Day had the required election material available on time.

Table 5: Availability of Election Materials

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting Violation

Percentage

Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

Gujrat 18 0 0.0%

Kasur 40 0 0.0%

Lahore 27 1 3.7%

Lodhran 19 0 0.0%

Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

Okara 42 0 0.0%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Vehari 22 0 0.0%

Total 249 1 0.4%

18 19

Table 6: Role of Police/Security Forces

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting

Violation Percentage

Lodhran 19 2 10.5%

Faisalabad 12 1 8.3%

Kasur 40 3 7.5%

Bahawalnagar 15 1 6.7%

Chakwal 15 1 6.7%

Gujrat 18 1 5.6%

Vehari 22 1 4.5%

Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

Lahore 27 0 0.0%

Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

Okara 42 0 0.0%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Total 249 10 4.0%

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting Violation

Percentage

Okara 42 37 88.1%

Nankana Sahib 10 8 80.0%

Bahawalnagar 15 12 80.0%

Lahore 27 21 77.8%

Lodhran 19 14 73.7%

Vehari 22 15 68.2%

Kasur 40 27 67.5%

Gujrat 18 12 66.7%

Chakwal 15 10 66.7%

Bhakkar 20 11 55.0%

Faisalabad 12 6 50.0%

Pakpattan 9 4 44.4%

Total 249 177 71.1%

Role of Police/ Security ForcesOf the 249 polling stations from where the information was collected on the Election Day, 177 (71.1%) were reported to have security officials present inside the premises of the polling stations. Most of Okara’s 42 polling stations from where observation reports were received, i.e. 37 (88.1%), polling stations had security officials present inside the premises. The trend was observed at 80% of Nankana Sahib’s and Bahawalnagar’s, 77.8% of Lahore’s, 73.7% of Lodhran’s, 68.2% of Vehari’s, 67.5 % of Kasur’s, 66.7% each of Gujrat’s and Chakwal’s, 55 % of Bhakkar’s, 50% of Faisalabad’s and 44.4 % of Pakpattan’s polling stations reported on Election Day.

Table 7: Party Materials Inside Polling Stations

Party Materials Inside Polling StationsAccording to the reports by observers from 249 polling stations, party or candidates' campaign material was present inside 10 (4%) polling stations.

The violations was reported from 10.5% polling stations in Lodhran, 8.3% polling stations in Faisalabad, 7.5% polling stations in Kasur, 6.7% polling stations in Bahawalnagar, 5.6% polling stations in Gujrat and 4.5% polling stations in Vehari.

18 19

Table 6: Role of Police/Security Forces

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting

Violation Percentage

Lodhran 19 2 10.5%

Faisalabad 12 1 8.3%

Kasur 40 3 7.5%

Bahawalnagar 15 1 6.7%

Chakwal 15 1 6.7%

Gujrat 18 1 5.6%

Vehari 22 1 4.5%

Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

Lahore 27 0 0.0%

Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

Okara 42 0 0.0%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Total 249 10 4.0%

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting Violation

Percentage

Okara 42 37 88.1%

Nankana Sahib 10 8 80.0%

Bahawalnagar 15 12 80.0%

Lahore 27 21 77.8%

Lodhran 19 14 73.7%

Vehari 22 15 68.2%

Kasur 40 27 67.5%

Gujrat 18 12 66.7%

Chakwal 15 10 66.7%

Bhakkar 20 11 55.0%

Faisalabad 12 6 50.0%

Pakpattan 9 4 44.4%

Total 249 177 71.1%

Role of Police/ Security ForcesOf the 249 polling stations from where the information was collected on the Election Day, 177 (71.1%) were reported to have security officials present inside the premises of the polling stations. Most of Okara’s 42 polling stations from where observation reports were received, i.e. 37 (88.1%), polling stations had security officials present inside the premises. The trend was observed at 80% of Nankana Sahib’s and Bahawalnagar’s, 77.8% of Lahore’s, 73.7% of Lodhran’s, 68.2% of Vehari’s, 67.5 % of Kasur’s, 66.7% each of Gujrat’s and Chakwal’s, 55 % of Bhakkar’s, 50% of Faisalabad’s and 44.4 % of Pakpattan’s polling stations reported on Election Day.

Table 7: Party Materials Inside Polling Stations

Party Materials Inside Polling StationsAccording to the reports by observers from 249 polling stations, party or candidates' campaign material was present inside 10 (4%) polling stations.

The violations was reported from 10.5% polling stations in Lodhran, 8.3% polling stations in Faisalabad, 7.5% polling stations in Kasur, 6.7% polling stations in Bahawalnagar, 5.6% polling stations in Gujrat and 4.5% polling stations in Vehari.

20 21

Table 8: Secrecy of Voting

Secrecy of VotingArticle 226 of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees every voter's right to secret ballot – an area that continued to lag behind.

FAFEN Observers reported violation of secrecy of voting from 10.8% of the polling stations observed in 12 districts of Punjab where local government elections took place in the first phase. The violation was reported from 27 of the 249 polling stations that were observed and reported from the Election Day. There were 11 such polling stations in Okara district where secrecy of voting was breached, followed by six in Vehari, five in Lodhran and one each in Pakpattan, Nankana Sahib, Lahore, Kasur and Bhakkar.

Table 9: Polling Staff accompanying voter behind the secrecy screen

Neutrality of Election StaffAt all but one polling station of the Punjab from where the reports were received, the polling staff was found to be maintaining a neutral behavior. At one polling station of Gujrat, staff was observed to be accompanying voters behind the secrecy screen. No such reports were received from the remaining 248 polling stations.

Sr. No. District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting

Violation Percentage

1 Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

2 Bhakkar 20 1 5.0%

3 Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

4 Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

5 Gujrat 18 0 0.0%

6 Kasur 40 1 2.5%

7 Lahore 27 1 3.7%

8 Lodhran 19 5 26.3%

9 Nankana Sahib 10 1 10.0%

10 Okara 42 11 26.2%

11 Pakpattan 9 1 11.1%

12 Vehari 22 6 27.3%

Total 249 27 10.8%

Sr. No.

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting Violation

Percentage

1 Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

2 Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

3 Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

4 Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

5 Gujrat 18 1 5.6%

6 Kasur 40 0 0.0%

7 Lahore 27 0 0.0%

8 Lodhran 19 0 0.0%

9 Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

10 Okara 42 0 0.0%

11 Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

12 Vehari 22 0 0.0%

Total 249 1 0.4%

20 21

Table 8: Secrecy of Voting

Secrecy of VotingArticle 226 of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees every voter's right to secret ballot – an area that continued to lag behind.

FAFEN Observers reported violation of secrecy of voting from 10.8% of the polling stations observed in 12 districts of Punjab where local government elections took place in the first phase. The violation was reported from 27 of the 249 polling stations that were observed and reported from the Election Day. There were 11 such polling stations in Okara district where secrecy of voting was breached, followed by six in Vehari, five in Lodhran and one each in Pakpattan, Nankana Sahib, Lahore, Kasur and Bhakkar.

Table 9: Polling Staff accompanying voter behind the secrecy screen

Neutrality of Election StaffAt all but one polling station of the Punjab from where the reports were received, the polling staff was found to be maintaining a neutral behavior. At one polling station of Gujrat, staff was observed to be accompanying voters behind the secrecy screen. No such reports were received from the remaining 248 polling stations.

Sr. No. District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting

Violation Percentage

1 Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

2 Bhakkar 20 1 5.0%

3 Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

4 Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

5 Gujrat 18 0 0.0%

6 Kasur 40 1 2.5%

7 Lahore 27 1 3.7%

8 Lodhran 19 5 26.3%

9 Nankana Sahib 10 1 10.0%

10 Okara 42 11 26.2%

11 Pakpattan 9 1 11.1%

12 Vehari 22 6 27.3%

Total 249 27 10.8%

Sr. No.

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting Violation

Percentage

1 Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

2 Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

3 Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

4 Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

5 Gujrat 18 1 5.6%

6 Kasur 40 0 0.0%

7 Lahore 27 0 0.0%

8 Lodhran 19 0 0.0%

9 Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

10 Okara 42 0 0.0%

11 Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

12 Vehari 22 0 0.0%

Total 249 1 0.4%

22 23

Table 10: Canvassing inside Polling Stations

Canvassing Inside Polling StationsThe ECP's Code of Conduct for political parties and contesting candidates strictly bars candidates or their supporters from any campaigning within 200 yards limit of the polling station. However, FAFEN observers reported a number of incidents where candidates, political leaders, political workers, influential persons or security personnel were found persuading voters to vote in favor of a specific candidate or party. Of the 249 polling stations reported, 10 polling stations had candidates or their party workers canvassing for votes. Three of these 10 polling stations were located in Bahawalnagar, two each in Gujrat, Kasur, Lahore and one in Lodhran. A single incident of a political leader (other than the candidate) requesting votes was also reported from Bahawalnagar. From five polling stations across 12 districts of Punjab, the reports of influential persons persuading voters to cast votes on their favor were also received, including two from Okara and one each from Vehari, Kasur and Bahawalnagar.

Moreover, at eight instances, security personnel were found persuading voters to cast their vote in favor of a specific party or candidate. Of these eight, two each were reported in Gujrat and Kasur while one each was reported from Faisalabad, Lodhran, Okara and Vehari.

Table No: 11 Partisan Influence on Election Staff

Partisan Influence on Election StaffOf the 249 polling stations that were observed, one polling station each in district Bhakkar, and district Kasur were reported partisan influence on election staff. All the other polling stations from where the reports were collected on the Election Day did not report any such occurrence.

District

Number of Polling

Stations Reporting on Election Day

Percentage of Candidate

or Party Workers

Persuading Voters

Percentage of Political

Leaders Persuading

Voters

Percentage of Influential

Persons Persuading

Voters

Percentage of Security Personnel

Persuading Voters

Bahawalnagar 15 20.0% 6.7% 6.7% 0.0%

Bhakkar 20 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Chakwal 15 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 8.3%

Gujrat 18 11.1% 0.0% 0.0% 11.1%

Kasur 40 5.0% 0.0% 2.5% 5.0%

Lahore 27 7.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Lodhran 19 5.3% 0.0% 0.0% 5.3%

Nankana Sahib 10 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Okara 42 0.0% 0.0% 4.8% 2.4%

Pakpattan 9 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Vehari 22 0.0% 0.0% 4.5% 4.5%

Total 249 4.0% 0.4% 2.0% 3.2%

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting Violation

Percentage

Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

Bhakkar 20 1 5.0%

Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

Gujrat 18 0 0.0%

Kasur 40 1 2.5%

Lahore 27 0 0.0%

Lodhran 19 0 0.0%

Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

Okara 42 0 0.0%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Vehari 22 0 0.0%

Total 249 2 0.8%

22 23

Table 10: Canvassing inside Polling Stations

Canvassing Inside Polling StationsThe ECP's Code of Conduct for political parties and contesting candidates strictly bars candidates or their supporters from any campaigning within 200 yards limit of the polling station. However, FAFEN observers reported a number of incidents where candidates, political leaders, political workers, influential persons or security personnel were found persuading voters to vote in favor of a specific candidate or party. Of the 249 polling stations reported, 10 polling stations had candidates or their party workers canvassing for votes. Three of these 10 polling stations were located in Bahawalnagar, two each in Gujrat, Kasur, Lahore and one in Lodhran. A single incident of a political leader (other than the candidate) requesting votes was also reported from Bahawalnagar. From five polling stations across 12 districts of Punjab, the reports of influential persons persuading voters to cast votes on their favor were also received, including two from Okara and one each from Vehari, Kasur and Bahawalnagar.

Moreover, at eight instances, security personnel were found persuading voters to cast their vote in favor of a specific party or candidate. Of these eight, two each were reported in Gujrat and Kasur while one each was reported from Faisalabad, Lodhran, Okara and Vehari.

Table No: 11 Partisan Influence on Election Staff

Partisan Influence on Election StaffOf the 249 polling stations that were observed, one polling station each in district Bhakkar, and district Kasur were reported partisan influence on election staff. All the other polling stations from where the reports were collected on the Election Day did not report any such occurrence.

District

Number of Polling

Stations Reporting on Election Day

Percentage of Candidate

or Party Workers

Persuading Voters

Percentage of Political

Leaders Persuading

Voters

Percentage of Influential

Persons Persuading

Voters

Percentage of Security Personnel

Persuading Voters

Bahawalnagar 15 20.0% 6.7% 6.7% 0.0%

Bhakkar 20 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Chakwal 15 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 8.3%

Gujrat 18 11.1% 0.0% 0.0% 11.1%

Kasur 40 5.0% 0.0% 2.5% 5.0%

Lahore 27 7.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Lodhran 19 5.3% 0.0% 0.0% 5.3%

Nankana Sahib 10 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Okara 42 0.0% 0.0% 4.8% 2.4%

Pakpattan 9 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Vehari 22 0.0% 0.0% 4.5% 4.5%

Total 249 4.0% 0.4% 2.0% 3.2%

District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting Violation

Percentage

Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

Bhakkar 20 1 5.0%

Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

Gujrat 18 0 0.0%

Kasur 40 1 2.5%

Lahore 27 0 0.0%

Lodhran 19 0 0.0%

Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

Okara 42 0 0.0%

Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

Vehari 22 0 0.0%

Total 249 2 0.8%

24 25

Table No: 12 Interruption in Polling

Interruption in PollingOut of the total 249 polling stations from which the reports of interruption in polling were collected, seven reportedly had breaks during voting. Of these, two each were located in Kasur, Lahore and Okara and one in Lodhran. Furthermore, one polling station in Chakwal was reportedly captured.

Table No. 14: Voter Grievances

Voter GrievancesFAFEN observers collected information regarding voter grievances from 249 polling stations located across 12 districts of Punjab where election was held. Of these, voters at eight polling stations were reported to have complaints regarding electoral process. Of these, 3 polling stations were in Lodhran and one each in Gujrat, Vehari, Lahore, Kasur and Okara. These grievances mostly include complaints against last minute change in polling station and discriminatory attitude of polling officials.

Sr. No.

District Number of Polling

Stations Reporting on Election Day

Polling Station / Both closed / Break during

Voting

Polling Station Captured

1 Bahawalnagar 15 0 0

2 Bhakkar 20 0 0

3 Chakwal 15 0 1

4 Faisalabad 12 0 0

5 Gujrat 18 0 0

6 Kasur 40 2 0

7 Lahore 27 2 0

8 Lodhran 19 1 0

9 Nankana Sahib 10 0 0

10 Okara 42 2 0

11 Pakpattan 9 0 0

12 Vehari 22 0 0

Total 249 7 1

Sr. No. District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting

Violation Percentage

1 Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

2 Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

3 Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

4 Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

5 Gujrat 18 1 5.6%

6 Kasur 40 1 2.5%

7 Lahore 27 1 3.7%

8 Lodhran 19 3 15.8%

9 Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

10 Okara 42 1 2.4%

11 Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

12 Vehari 22 1 4.5%

Total 249 8 3.2%

24 25

Table No: 12 Interruption in Polling

Interruption in PollingOut of the total 249 polling stations from which the reports of interruption in polling were collected, seven reportedly had breaks during voting. Of these, two each were located in Kasur, Lahore and Okara and one in Lodhran. Furthermore, one polling station in Chakwal was reportedly captured.

Table No. 14: Voter Grievances

Voter GrievancesFAFEN observers collected information regarding voter grievances from 249 polling stations located across 12 districts of Punjab where election was held. Of these, voters at eight polling stations were reported to have complaints regarding electoral process. Of these, 3 polling stations were in Lodhran and one each in Gujrat, Vehari, Lahore, Kasur and Okara. These grievances mostly include complaints against last minute change in polling station and discriminatory attitude of polling officials.

Sr. No.

District Number of Polling

Stations Reporting on Election Day

Polling Station / Both closed / Break during

Voting

Polling Station Captured

1 Bahawalnagar 15 0 0

2 Bhakkar 20 0 0

3 Chakwal 15 0 1

4 Faisalabad 12 0 0

5 Gujrat 18 0 0

6 Kasur 40 2 0

7 Lahore 27 2 0

8 Lodhran 19 1 0

9 Nankana Sahib 10 0 0

10 Okara 42 2 0

11 Pakpattan 9 0 0

12 Vehari 22 0 0

Total 249 7 1

Sr. No. District Number of Polling Stations Reporting on Election Day

Number of Polling Stations Reporting

Violation Percentage

1 Bahawalnagar 15 0 0.0%

2 Bhakkar 20 0 0.0%

3 Chakwal 15 0 0.0%

4 Faisalabad 12 0 0.0%

5 Gujrat 18 1 5.6%

6 Kasur 40 1 2.5%

7 Lahore 27 1 3.7%

8 Lodhran 19 3 15.8%

9 Nankana Sahib 10 0 0.0%

10 Okara 42 1 2.4%

11 Pakpattan 9 0 0.0%

12 Vehari 22 1 4.5%

Total 249 8 3.2%

§ FAFEN is one of the most credible networks of civil society organizations working for strengthening citizens' voice and accountability in Pakistan since 2006.

§ FAFEN has harnessed information technology for real-time monitoring, facilitation and technical backstopping of partners for effective and result-based program delivery.

§ FAFEN is the only civil society group to have been invited by the Judicial Commission to present the evidence of illegalities and irregularities documented through the course of General Elections 2013 Observation. The systemic and procedural issues identified by FAFEN have been acknowledged by the commission in its detailed findings.

§ FAFEN's recommendations for electoral reforms have contributed to the work of Parliamentary Committee for Electoral Reforms.

§ FAFEN's advocacy for parliamentary transparency, accountability and reforms has shaped public discourse on parliamentary reforms. Improved citizens' access to parliamentary information including daily public release of parliamentarians' attendance records can be directly attributed to FAFEN's work.

§ FAFEN deployed 18,000 and 40,000 non-partisan and trained observers for the systematic observation of general election 2008 and 2013, respectively, largest citizens' observation ever undertaken in Pakistan.

§ FAFEN's evidence and recommendations for reforms have improved the quality of public and political discourse on elections, its issues and need for reforms. Leading political parties and media houses extensively use FAFEN's election findings and analysis to build a case for reforms.

§ With around 14,000 followers on Twitter and around 65,000 on Facebook, FAFEN is considered one of the most reliable sources of electoral and parliamentary information in the country.

About FAFEN

www.openparliament.pk I www.fafen.org I www.parliamentfiles.com