Pakistan’s period of uncertainty comes to an end as per the latest findings from the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). The organization released its preliminary observation report on the general elections held on February 8 in the country.
During a briefing, FAFEN Chairperson Musarat Qadeem highlighted that despite two years of chaos, political parties actively participated in the elections, overcoming challenges such as unequal opportunities and terrorism threats. The report indicated that over 50 million people exercised their voting rights in the recently concluded elections.
Commending the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for conducting the elections, the report also pointed out some flaws in the process, particularly in the preparation and announcement of preliminary results, which affected the overall orderly conduct of the election.
Musarat Qadeem emphasized that the conclusion of the elections marks the end of a period of uncertainty in the country. She urged political parties to take responsibility for ensuring stability, calling on the Election Commission to address concerns regarding the results promptly.
The report disclosed that the voter turnout was 48%, with no constituency reporting women’s participation below 10%. Notably, 12 women were elected, eight of whom were independent candidates. The report also highlighted the election of candidates without any political party backing.
In terms of party performance, the FAFEN report noted that the vote banks of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) increased, while the vote bank of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remained consistent throughout the elections.
