By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD – A leading human rights group in Pakistan on Monday denounced the election authorities for creating an unfair environment for the general election next month, saying that one of the main opposition parties had been singled out for harassment and intimidation.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), a prominent civil society organization, said in a statement that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by former prime minister Imran Khan, had faced a campaign of “systematic dismemberment” that included arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and rejection of nomination papers of its candidates.
It said the “blatant manipulation of the electoral landscape in which one political party among others has been singled out for systematic dismemberment”.
“This has assumed a familiar pattern, including arrests of party workers and supporters, lack of transparency concerning the charges involved, crackdowns on party workers’ right to peaceful assembly, enforced disappearances, obvious signs of pressure on party leaders to resign or exit politics altogether and, most recently, the large-scale rejection of candidates’ nomination papers. Various other parties have also been subjected to similar tactics to varying degrees. At this point, there is little evidence to show that the upcoming elections will be free, fair or credible.”
It also decried the “state’s clampdown on dissent”, saying it had “further constricted civic spaces in the country at a time when people must be allowed to express their will freely ahead of a national election”.
The statement echoed the complaints of Khan, who has alleged that military has been meddling in the election and favoring the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by Nawaz Sharif, a three-time prime minister who was ousted and jailed by the Supreme Court in 2018 over corruption charges.
The HRCP also criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for creating an uneven playing field for the upcoming election, scheduled for February 8, and said that the current situation was not conducive to a free and fair election, and that it would cast doubt on the legitimacy of the next government.
“Our concern is that there will always remain a question mark on whichever government is formed as a result of this,” Munizae Jahangir, the co-chairperson of the commission, said at a news conference in Islamabad.
Jahangir urged the caretaker government and the ECP to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates, and to uphold the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
“I think we all know how the non-elected people have used their influence to monitor or direct politicians. We want the caretaker government and ECP to assert themselves and fulfill the responsibilities of carrying out free and fair elections that have been entrusted to them,” she said.
Another civil society group, the Free and Fair Election Network, also called on the election commission to publish the decisions of the returning officers, who are responsible for scrutinizing and approving the nomination papers of the candidates.
The group said in a statement that this would help prevent any misinformation and disinformation about the election, and would enhance the public’s trust in the electoral system.
“By sharing returning officers’ decisions, the election commission will empower citizens to comprehend the reasons behind these decisions, and encourage informed opinions about the electoral process,” it added.
“This measure will not only reinforce the transparency of the electoral process but also serve as a safeguard against any possible manipulation or irregularity.”
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