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O 201513Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5253
INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8191
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 7312
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2848
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 9014
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 4865
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 3568
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 000744 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PK PHUM PREL KDEM EAID
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS COMMENT ON PAKISTAN'S 
ELECTIONS 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  International election observation teams, 
including Pakistani NGO Free and Fair Election Network 
(FAFEN), the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU 
EOM), and Democracy International (DI) issued statements on 
February 19 and 20 commenting on the February 18 
parliamentary elections.  The groups expressed general 
satisfaction with the election administration, although all 
noted irregularities on election day, criticized the 
pre-election political environment and made recommendations 
for future reforms. End summary. 
 
FAFEN 
----- 
 
¶2. FAFEN is a coalition of 40 Pakistani civil society 
organizations established in 2006 to observe the election 
process, educate voters and advocate for electoral and 
democratic reform.  Approximately 18,829 FAFEN observers 
visited around 8,000 polls on election day. FAFEN is funded 
through The Asia Foundation with U.S. and other international 
donor assistance.  In a press statement February 19, FAFEN 
emphasized that they would continue to observe the remaining 
processes and stressed the need for long-term reform, 
including improvement of the computerized voter list and a 
more independent Election Commission.  FAFEN noted 
irregularities observed at the polls including violence, 
irregular voter identification, restrictions on observers, 
absenteeism of polling officials, and closed women's polling 
stations.  FAFEN also conducted a parallel vote tabulation 
(PVT) which will be released in a few days. 
 
EUROPEAN UNION 
-------------- 
 
¶3. EU EOM utilized short-term and long-term observers who, 
since December 9, 2007, observed over 65% of the 
constituencies. On election day, 131 observers from 23 
countries monitored 115 constituencies.  EU EOM presented 
preliminary results of their observation on February 20  They 
noted that the parliamentary elections were a competitive 
process that increased public confidence but were hindered by 
problems with the election framework and environment. 
Michael Gahler, Chief Observer of the EU EOM, said that the 
election process went better than expected, but he refused to 
comment on whether the elections were "free, fair or 
transparent," calling those labels too simplistic. EU EOM 
described these elections as "no worse" than those in 2002 
and a "step ahead" in some areas.  The Chair of the European 
Parliament Delegation, Robert Evans, lauded the elections as 
a "stepping stone" to full democracy in Pakistan. 
 
¶4.  Like FAFEN, the EU EOM focused on pre-election 
irregularities, repeatedly noting that the pre-election 
environment favored the government's party.  They noted some 
organizational deficits, including understaffed and 
overcrowded female polling stations and some polling stations 
where EU EOM observers were prevented from observing ballot 
tabulation at a "close enough" distance.  Very few returning 
officers displayed constituency results with a breakdown of 
polling stations as promised by the Election Commission. In a 
response to a question on polls that denied female voters, 
the Deputy Election Observer said EU EOM would address this 
with the Election Commission and suggest declaring elections 
in these areas null and void. 
 
¶5.  EU EOM made several recommendations for continued 
electoral reform, including requiring posting of results from 
each individual polling station, speedy and transparent 
processing of complaints and appeals, a single and a 
comprehensive voter list. EU EOM will continue to observe the 
post-election process, including results consolidation and 
redress for complaints and appeals.  The EU EOM will provide 
more detailed information in their final report which will be 
issued within two months of completion of the entire process. 
 
DEMOCRACY INTERNATIONAL 
----------------------- 
 
¶6.  Democracy International (DI), led by former congressman 
Jim Moody, arrived in Pakistan on February 10 and fielded 38 
short-term observers on election day in Karachi, Lahore, 
Peshawar, Multan and Islamabad.  DI was funded by a grant 
 
ISLAMABAD 00000744  002 OF 002 
 
 
from USAID after the International Republican Institute 
canceled its mission in the wake of post-Bhutto assassination 
violence. DI presented results on February 20, stating that 
their observers viewed election day as having been relatively 
peaceful, blunting expectations of violence and systematic 
manipulation.  DI observed that overall balloting and 
counting processes were conducted in accordance with 
established procedures.  DI focused on pre-election 
irregularities, observing that the pre-election political 
environment presented serious obstacles to a fully democratic 
election. DI observers viewed some systemic problems on 
election day, including inaccurate voter lists, limited voter 
turnout, and low participation of women and recommended the 
Election Commission address these irregularities to improve 
the overall electoral process. 
 
PATTERSON