LONDON, CMC – Two Caribbean Group (CARICOM) nationals are amongst a 13-member Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) deployed to Pakistan to watch the final elections scheduled for February 8.
Former speaker of the St. Lucia Parliament, Sarah Lucy Flood-Beaubrun, and Guyanese journalist and media advocate Nazima Natasha Raghubir are included within the workforce headed by Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the previous President of Nigeria.
Commonwealth Secretary-Basic Patricia Scotland KC mentioned the observer group will provide an impartial and complete evaluation of the electoral course of and can assess the conduct of the method as a complete and, the place acceptable, make suggestions for the additional strengthening the electoral system.
“It’s hoped that these suggestions will profit the folks and authorities of Pakistan in strengthening their electoral processes. The Commonwealth Secretariat could be prepared to help with this course of if vital.
“I applaud Pakistan’s dedication to transparency and accountability. The Commonwealth is happy to assist Pakistan’s democratic journey. We stay up for peaceable and truthful elections,” she added.
She additionally known as on all stakeholders, together with political events and their supporters, to contribute to a peaceable election consistent with the Commonwealth values.
The London-based Commonwealth Secretariat mentioned that in their keep, the members of the observer group can be stationed all through the nation, and they are going to be supported by a workforce from the Secretariat led by Linford Andrews, Adviser and Head of the Electoral Assist Part.
“On election day, members of the COG will observe and contemplate all elements of the election course of throughout Pakistan- from the opening of polling stations and the voting course of to the counting of ballots and announcement of outcomes. Following election day, the group will maintain a press convention and concern an interim assertion with its preliminary findings.
“A last report, which can embrace suggestions to assist enhance future electoral processes, can be introduced to the federal government of Pakistan and the Election Fee. The report can even be shared with different stakeholders,” the Secretariat mentioned.
The election is going down in an agitated environment after former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, got 14-year jail sentences, the second sentence handed to Pakistan’s former prime minister in two days.
The couple was convicted of illegally making the most of state presents every week earlier than the final election, during which he was barred from standing.
Khan, who was ousted as prime minister by his opponents in 2022, is already serving a three-year jail time period for corruption.
He has mentioned the quite a few instances towards him are politically motivated.
The previous prime minister and worldwide cricket star has been detained since final August when he was arrested, whereas his spouse, who had been out on remand, surrendered on the jail on Wednesday.
He has informed his followers, “Take revenge for each injustice along with your vote on February 8 whereas remaining peaceable”.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) celebration, which has denounced the jail sentences, mentioned the authorities have been finishing up a crackdown on PTI and that lots of its leaders at the moment are behind bars or have defected. Its candidates are standing as independents, and lots of are on the run.
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