In its pre-election assessment report, the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has termed the pre-poll process in the country “unfair”.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation said the score on pre-poll fairness perception stood at 51.5 percent on a scale of 100. The study, conducted from April 2017 to March 2018, is based on findings through 11 parameters, where two parameters fell in the “highly unfair” scale.
The report cited the parameters as perception of neutrality of military towards competing political parties and candidates receiving the lowest score i.e. 33.4 percent and perception of freedom of private media from the influence of state institutions and vested interests at 37.8 percent.
According to the report, “unfair scale” included perception of neutrality of the state-owned media at 41.5 percent, followed by that of accountability process led by the National Accountability Bureau, which stood at 43.1 percent. The perception of neutrality of judiciary also fell in the scale of “unfair” with a score of 45.8 percent.
The study found that parameters pertaining to level field provided by the Election Commission of Pakistan received the highest scores. “Perception of credibility of electoral rolls received the highest score of 67.3 percent while independence, neutrality and effectiveness of ECP received 65.3 percent.
Meanwhile, perception of fairness and adherence to laws and rules relating to the electoral constituencies delimitation process received a high score of 64 percent. “Lack of ability of the president and governors to influence elections received score of 61.8 percent while lack of ability of local government’s influence on elections was found at 57.8 percent.” The parameter on maintenance of law and order to allow political activities on a level playing field received a score of 57.8 percent.
Published in Daily Times, May 30th 2018.
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