ISLAMABAD, June 29: A network of NGOs working for free and fair elections in the country has reported that there were unauthorised people present inside many polling stations trying to coerce or coax or intimidate voters to vote for one candidate or the other during the by-elections held on June 26.

In a comprehensive report, the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) said these unauthorised people were generally federal or provincial ministers, supporters of political parties, or other local influential people. It said the presiding officers or police at polling stations found it difficult to resist. Armed men were also reported to have been present inside a large number of polling stations.

Fafen has observed by-elections in five National Assembly (NA) and 23 provincial assembly (PA) constituencies.

Fafen deployed long-term constituency coordinators in these constituencies on June 1 to observe all aspects of the pre-election process including election administration, preparations and campaigning of political parties and candidates, use of state resources, violations of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) code of conduct for political parties and contesting candidates, and intimidation and harassment of voters.

The report is based on data received from more than 1,500 polling stations in five NA and 12 PA constituencies.

Fafen said it was alarming to note that election officials in a significantly large number of polling stations were seen either attempting to influence voters or stamping ballots. Unlike the general elections on February 18, Fafen observers have reported that local government representatives and officials had little role in the by-elections. However, they reported that federal and provincial ministers were quite active on and before the election day campaigning for their party candidates.

Media reports have already suggested active campaigning for their parties by the prime minister, chief ministers, and federal and provincial ministers using official vehicles and protocols, which was against the election law and the ECP Code of Conduct for political parties and contesting candidates.

The report says while the ECP made adequate logistical arrangements for fresh elections as well as by-polls, there were significant gaps in the enforcement of election day laws and procedures, leading to irregularities and inconsistencies in election administration.

These irregularities and inconsistencies create a conducive environment for electoral fraud by political parties and candidates at the polling station level, as was the case during the general elections. Pervasive fraud in individual polling stations is as damaging to the fairness of elections as systematic, generalised rigging.