Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD592
2008-02-11 06:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
ELECTION COMMISSION TAKES SOME POSITIVE,
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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000592
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL EAID
SUBJECT: ELECTION COMMISSION TAKES SOME POSITIVE,
LAST-MINUTE STEPS
REF: ISLAMABAD 398
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000592
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL EAID
SUBJECT: ELECTION COMMISSION TAKES SOME POSITIVE,
LAST-MINUTE STEPS
REF: ISLAMABAD 398
1. (U) Summary: Pakistan's Election Commission (ECP) decided
February 7 to require the certification of polling results to
party agents and to set a new date for elections in four
constituencies because of the death of candidates, including
PPP's Benazir Bhutto. With the assistance of USG-supported
IFES, the ECP also launched its on-line complaints process
and published the list of polling stations. End summary.
2. (U) The ECP announced February 7 that the presiding
officer in each constituency should give a certified copy of
the statement of the count and the ballot paper count to
candidates' agents at polling stations. This would occur
directly after polling and the count. ECP Secretary Kanwar
Dilshad stated that this step was being taken to eliminate
the possibility of "ghost polling stations."
3. (SBU) On February 4, the ECP released hardcopy the list of
64,176 polling stations across the country along with their
respective number of voters. Dilshad noted that copies were
available at the offices of returning officers, district
returning officers, provincial election commissioners and the
ECP Secretariat. USG-supported IFES reported to EmbOff that
this list should also be on the ECP's website by February 11.
4. (U) The ECP also announced February 7 that the elections
for two National Assembly constituencies would be deferred
until the second week of April because of the death of one of
the candidates. This number includes the Larkana
constituency of former Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir
Bhutto. The schedule for nominations, scrutiny and the
election date is supposed to be announced immediately after
the new members of the National Assembly are sworn in. These
elections will coincide with by-elections to fill seats
vacated by candidates winning multiple constituencies.
Candidates should have about 48 days for campaigning.
5. (U) So far, the ECP has registered 1,654
election-/campaign-related complaints. The entire list has
been placed on the ECP's website, with the assistance of
USG-supported IFES. The largest number of complaints
registered concern polling stations, but complaints range
from actions of civil servants to violations of the code of
conduct to examples of violence.
6. (SBU) Comment: These steps taken by the ECP are late, but
welcome. These are measures which the Embassy has pushed for
months and on which our grantee, IFES, has labored
extensively. The move to postpone elections where candidates
have died responds directly to a PPP request. End comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK PREL EAID
SUBJECT: ELECTION COMMISSION TAKES SOME POSITIVE,
LAST-MINUTE STEPS
REF: ISLAMABAD 398
1. (U) Summary: Pakistan's Election Commission (ECP) decided
February 7 to require the certification of polling results to
party agents and to set a new date for elections in four
constituencies because of the death of candidates, including
PPP's Benazir Bhutto. With the assistance of USG-supported
IFES, the ECP also launched its on-line complaints process
and published the list of polling stations. End summary.
2. (U) The ECP announced February 7 that the presiding
officer in each constituency should give a certified copy of
the statement of the count and the ballot paper count to
candidates' agents at polling stations. This would occur
directly after polling and the count. ECP Secretary Kanwar
Dilshad stated that this step was being taken to eliminate
the possibility of "ghost polling stations."
3. (SBU) On February 4, the ECP released hardcopy the list of
64,176 polling stations across the country along with their
respective number of voters. Dilshad noted that copies were
available at the offices of returning officers, district
returning officers, provincial election commissioners and the
ECP Secretariat. USG-supported IFES reported to EmbOff that
this list should also be on the ECP's website by February 11.
4. (U) The ECP also announced February 7 that the elections
for two National Assembly constituencies would be deferred
until the second week of April because of the death of one of
the candidates. This number includes the Larkana
constituency of former Pakistan People's Party leader Benazir
Bhutto. The schedule for nominations, scrutiny and the
election date is supposed to be announced immediately after
the new members of the National Assembly are sworn in. These
elections will coincide with by-elections to fill seats
vacated by candidates winning multiple constituencies.
Candidates should have about 48 days for campaigning.
5. (U) So far, the ECP has registered 1,654
election-/campaign-related complaints. The entire list has
been placed on the ECP's website, with the assistance of
USG-supported IFES. The largest number of complaints
registered concern polling stations, but complaints range
from actions of civil servants to violations of the code of
conduct to examples of violence.
6. (SBU) Comment: These steps taken by the ECP are late, but
welcome. These are measures which the Embassy has pushed for
months and on which our grantee, IFES, has labored
extensively. The move to postpone elections where candidates
have died responds directly to a PPP request. End comment.
PATTERSON