
PATTAN Report on Forms 47 Unveils ECP's Colossal Failures in the 2024 General Elections, Rampant Deficiencies and Systemic Corruption
The recent report by Pattan on the audit of Forms-47 in general elections once again exposed the rampant deficiencies and errors in the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) handling of the process. The 2024 general elections in Pakistan were an utter catastrophe, a gross misuse of PKR 50 billion that exposed the staggering incompetence and corruption of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Despite the lavish spending on training and resources, the result forms released by ECP were a complete mess. This flagrant disregard for accuracy and transparency is not just negligence; it's a blatant dereliction of duty that makes a mockery of the democratic process. The ECP's failure to prevent executive interference and enforce accountability has resulted in a chaotic sham where counting errors, missing disaggregated votes, and non-standardized stamps are the norm. Hiring supposedly reputable officials means nothing when the system itself is rotten to the core. The 2024 elections weren't just flawed; they were a scandalous display of how deeply broken and corrupt the electoral system in Pakistan truly is.
Here are the key findings, each highlighting a specific aspect of this egregious failure:
- Widespread Omissions by Returning Officers: It's utterly inexcusable that 68.7% of Returning Officers (182 constituencies) failed to mention their designation, parent department, the place of form preparation, and the date of preparation. Such basic omissions are not just oversights; they are glaring examples of dereliction of duty, casting serious doubts on the credibility of the entire election process.
- Lack of Official Stamps: The fact that 24% of forms lacked an official stamp is beyond unacceptable. An official stamp is a fundamental requirement for validating documents. This oversight reflects a shocking lack of procedural adherence and a failure to uphold the simplest standards of accountability.
- Counting Errors in Votes: Forms 47 from 13.2% of constituencies (35) contained counting errors in the votes obtained by candidates. This is an alarming indicator of the ECP's inability to ensure even basic arithmetic accuracy, further eroding trust in the election results.
- Calculation Errors in Polled and Rejected Votes: It is equally troubling that 3.8% of forms had calculation errors in the tally of polled and rejected votes. This level of incompetence is indicative of a complete breakdown in the procedural integrity and reliability of the electoral process.
- Missing Disaggregated Votes: Nine forms were found missing disaggregated votes for male and female voters. This omission is not only a violation of transparency standards but also a significant lapse in documenting vital voter demographics, which is crucial for electoral analysis and accountability.
- Non-Standardized Seals/Stamps: The fact that 73% of Returning Officers did not use standardized seals or stamps is a blatant disregard for uniformity and procedural integrity. This lack of standardization further undermines the authenticity and credibility of the election documentation.
The implications of these findings are devastating. The pervasive errors and omissions not only flout the legal framework governing elections but also thoroughly undermine the transparency and accountability of the electoral process. The ECP’s abject failure to enforce compliance and manage the election process, despite deploying supposedly high-ranking civil servants, reveals a deep-seated institutional rot. This raises grave concerns about the legitimacy of the 2024 general election results and the integrity of Pakistan's democratic process.
PATTAN-Coalition 38’s audit lays bare the ECP's colossal failures in the 2024 general elections. The myriad errors and deficiencies in the result forms, coupled with a total lack of accountability and transparency, highlight an urgent need for sweeping reforms within the ECP. Without addressing these critical issues, Pakistan's electoral system remains a corrupt and ineffective sham, undermining the very foundation of its democracy.
References
[1] Pattan. (2024, June 5). As many as 78% Form-47s are littered with multiple deficiencies: Reveals PATTAN’s audit. Retrieved from https://pattan.org/v2/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/As-many-as-78-Form-47s-are-littered-with-multiple-deficiencies.Reveals-Pattans-Audit-.pdf