UK (Commonwealth Union)_ A delegation from the Commonwealth, led by former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is set to monitor the general elections in Pakistan scheduled for February 8, 2024. In response to a request from the Election Commission of Pakistan, conveyed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a 13-member Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) will be dispatched to Islamabad, arriving on February 1, and will remain in the country until the conclusion of the electoral process.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Right Honourable Patricia Scotland KC, has formed a team of experts with diverse backgrounds from across the Commonwealth. This observer group is tasked with providing an independent and comprehensive assessment of the electoral proceedings.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General expressed her admiration for Pakistan’s commitment to transparency and accountability, expressing the Commonwealth’s support for the democratic process in the country. She stated, “I applaud Pakistan’s commitment to transparency and accountability. The Commonwealth is pleased to support Pakistan’s democratic journey. We look forward to peaceful and fair elections.”
The Secretary-General also commended the former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for accepting the invitation to chair the election observer group. The group will evaluate the entire electoral process and, if deemed necessary, offer recommendations to fortify the electoral system for the benefit of the people and government of Pakistan.
She further stated , “I am grateful that the former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has once again accepted our invitation to serve as Chair of an election observer group. The team of observers will assess the conduct of the process as a whole and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the further strengthening of the electoral system.” She continued, “It is hoped that these recommendations will be of benefit to the people and government of Pakistan in strengthening their electoral processes. The Commonwealth Secretariat would be ready to assist with this process if deemed necessary.”
During their mission, the observer group members will be stationed across the country and will receive support from a team led by Mr. Linford Andrews, Adviser and Head of the Electoral Support Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Secretary-General also urged all stakeholders, including political parties and their supporters, to create a peaceful environment for elections in line with Commonwealth values. Throughout their stay in Pakistan, the observer group will engage with various stakeholders, including representatives from political parties, election officials, media organizations, and civil society groups. On the day of the election, the group will observe and evaluate all aspects of the electoral process, from the opening of polling stations and the voting process to the counting of ballots and the announcement of results. Following the election, a press conference will be held, and an interim statement with preliminary findings will be issued.
A comprehensive final report, including recommendations for enhancing future electoral processes, will be presented to the government of Pakistan and the Election Commission. This report will also be shared with other stakeholders. The Commonwealth Observer Group is comprised of distinguished individuals from various countries, including Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of Nigeria, who serves as Chairperson. The members, representing a range of expertise and backgrounds, will adhere to the Commonwealth’s Revised Guidelines for the Conduct of Election Observation in Member Countries, adopted at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London in 2018.
The following delegates are members of the Commonwealth Observer Group. The chairperson is Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of Nigeria. Other observers include Dr Linet Damaris Njeri Muthoni, criminology and gender expert, Australia; Ms Barbara Malimali, Principal of Pacific Chambers and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Fiji; Ms Nazima Natasha Raghubir, Journalist and Media Advocate, Guyana; Mr Ahmed Issack Hassan, former Chairperson of the Independent National Election Commission of Kenya and Advocate, High Court of Kenya; Ms Anahila Lose Kanongata’a JP, former Member of Parliament, New Zealand; Ms Belinda Kora, Founder and Lead for Women in Media and Secretary of the Media Council of Papua New Guinea; Mrs Sarah Lucy Flood-Beaubrun, former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Saint Lucia; Mr Umaru Fofana, Editor-in-Chief, FreeMedia Group and former President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists; Mr Mohamed Mahdoom Mohamed, former Commissioner General of Elections, Election Commission of Sri Lanka; Mr Brian Speers, Lawyer and Mediator and former President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, United Kingdom; Hon Mohamed Chande Othman, former Chief Justice of the United Republic of Tanzania; and Mr Jacob Goma, Elections Expert, Zambia.
