![](https://nextpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Untitled-1-25.jpg)
- February 13, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
ISLAMABAD: While acknowledging a few isolated instances that can be rectified through the proper means, the poll Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has categorically denied any poll tampering. The Election Commission guarantees prompt complaint settlements even after business hours, according to a representative for the ECP.
He criticized the delay in announcing the results, saying it was wrong to jeopardize lives or call into question the accuracy of the results to make an announcement as soon as possible. No party substantially gained or lost anything, notwithstanding the delayed findings. Pointing out issues, he stated that the poll workers faced transportation difficulties due to the lack of mobile network coverage, connectivity problems, the far-flung and isolated locations of polling places, travel at night, unfavorable weather, including snow in some areas, and incidents of losing their way on transportation. Moreover, the poll workers faced additional challenges as a result of sit-ins organized by candidate supporters.
The elections were severely hampered by terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially because of the deaths of poll workers and civilians close to polling places. Under such conditions, there was a risk of putting human lives in jeopardy in an attempt to expedite the electoral process, which would have been problematic regardless of the outcome. Priority steps were taken to reduce this danger. Group transportation was arranged in addition to the mobile phone prohibition to maintain peace and order during the voting process and protect poll workers and supplies.
The massive operation was completed on February 8th, with the Election Commission managing to guarantee a calm and orderly election process despite several challenges and obstacles. Civil society organizations, domestic and foreign observers, and the media recognized and applauded the polling arrangements, staff training, polling station discipline, and noteworthy voter turnout, all of which contributed to the electoral process’s success. He said that these factors all contributed to the achievement.
He noted that there was a lot of conjecture going around that the elections would not take place on the planned day. Nevertheless, the Election Commission effectively carried out the elections according to schedule by taking all necessary concrete steps to refute this idea. To ensure a calm and orderly election on February 8, he stated that maintaining the safety of poll workers, protecting the transit of voting materials, and correctly processing results were the top objectives. The primary goal was to ensure peaceful voting despite security concerns.
It is remarkable, although, that there was no discernible pattern in the election results in the areas where they were postponed, and no party was better off or worse off than the other. In the general election of 2024, the first results were announced at 2 pm, whereas in 2018 it happened at 4 am. Additionally, it took roughly three days to disclose the results in 2018, while it only took 1.5 days this time around, except in a few locations. Throughout the day, the results were finalized.
But for the presiding officers’ phones to download and use the Election Management System (EMS) mobile app, cellular connectivity was required for the electronic transmission of Form 45. Presiding officers and returning officers were unable to transmit electronic data because cellular communications were disabled for security reasons. The disruption of administrative transit and regular coordination was caused by the failure of mobile signals, which added to the delays.
Five to six returning officer offices will be arranged in one location to facilitate coordination and security in various parts of the nation; however, in offices where the arrival of poll workers has caused a surge in traffic, there will be multiple returning officer offices. Before additionally, a sizable throng was assembled, making it impossible for the poll workers to turn in the polling materials. This also had an impact on how the election results were processed.
Helicopters were used in some areas of Balochistan to deliver supplies and poll workers. Multiple returning officers’ offices were combined in some places to increase security and coordination worldwide. This resulted in congestion and difficulties for polling personnel in submitting papers, which influenced the election result processing. The Election Materials shall be directly delivered by the Presiding Officer to the Returning Officer’s office, as per Section 90 of the Elections Act, 2017. Notably, the EMS system installed in the Returning Officer’s office has shown to be efficient and runs without the need for connectivity.
In order to keep the calm throughout the elections, the Election Commission expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Army, the federal and provincial governments, law enforcement, other institutions, and poll workers. Transporting poll workers and polling materials in several parts of Balochistan required the use of helicopters.