ISLAMABAD- An assessment carried out by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency has concluded that the Overall Quality of General Election 2013 was much better than General Elections of 2002 and 2008.
It assessed the Overall Quality of General Election 2013 at 57% as against 37% for 2002 and 40% for 2008 elections.
The assessment attributes the improvement to the significant reforms undertaken in the pre-poll phase. These included the re-organization of the Election Commission and an improved legal framework.
In the post-Poll phase, favourable preliminary reports issued by the international observers like EU Observers Mission, Common wealth Observer Mission and Government of Japan Election Observer Mission, was considered a positive sign and so was the conformity of election results.
The assessment says different local powerful actors negatively influenced the quality of election in Urban Sindh, especially Karachi, rural Sindh and certain constituencies in the Punjab; there was no evidence to suggest a planned manipulation of polls by any state institution.
It says the Election Commission should analyze the weaknesses and shortcomings experienced during the polling-day and post-poll phases and initiate action to address these flaws.