February 16, 2007	Friday	Muharram 27, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Weak enforcement of election laws created an environment conducive for rigging in the recently-held by-polls on a National Assembly and a Sindh Assembly seat, says a report, released by the Free and Free Election Network (FAFEN), a coalition of more than 30 leading non-governmental organisations.

The report is based on the findings of a team of 20 election observers who monitored by-elections in NA-250 in Karachi and P-71 in Jamshoro on Feb 10.

It said reports from all election monitors indicated that the implementation of election rules and regulations remained weak during the pre-election period and on the polling day. "Violations of the code of conduct for candidates were widespread," the report said.

"Violations of election rules and procedures were … widespread in both the constituencies. Transfers and postings of government officials during the election period, use of official cars, campaigning by ministers, advisers and officials of the federal and provincial governments, expenses beyond prescribed limits by major contestants, postings and transfers, wall-chalking even on government buildings that were to be used as polling stations, over-sized banners and billboards and election rallies on main roads were clear violations of the election laws that were conveniently violated," according to the report.

The appointment of presiding officers and their lack of training, lax security arrangements, free passage of government-backed supporters and allowing powerful people, even belonging to the opposition’s candidates, to enter the polling stations, etc., indicated the issue of capacity of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to manage election even in the two constituencies.

The report expressed the fear that the by-elections might further diminish the people’s confidence in the electoral process and further reduce the voter turnout in the upcoming general election.