Independent observer monitoring Pakistan elections highlight grey areas in poll process

An independent watchdog monitoring Pakistan elections on Saturday highlighted various grey areas in the recently held polls, noting the failure of presiding officers in providing Form 45 to observers at 29 per cent of the polling stations..

Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) spokesperson Musarrat Qadeem, quoting the initial report on the election, in a press conference said: "The failure to display copies of Form 45, as required, in 29 per cent of polling stations was a notable oversight."..

Several countries, including the US, the UK, and the European Union, showed concern that the Pakistani military had been "rigging" the just-held general elections to "prop up" its candidate and deny the victory secured by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan...

Peter Stano, Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union said: "We regret the lack of a level playing field due to the inability of some political actors to contest the elections, restrictions to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression both online and offline, restrictions of access to the internet, as well as allegations of severe interference in the electoral process, including arrests of political activists."..

"We call on all political actors in Pakistan to engage in a peaceful and inclusive dialogue aiming at the formation of a stable government and to respect human rights in line with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as well as with international treaties to which Pakistan is party," Stano said.. Pakistan's general elections were held on Thursday and the counting began soon after with the hope that the majority of the 265 contested seats in the National Assembly would be available by Friday morning...

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