It has been observed that during Elections - 2008, the electoral process-related instructions and codes were gender blind. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) failed to capitalise them, as it did not undertake consultation with all parties conferences' (APC) on development of the code of conduct.
This was stated by Aazar Ayaz, executive director, The Researchers (TR), a research-based civil society organisation, while briefing media persons here on Wednesday. "The General Election - 2008 earned for itself the label of "Mother of all elections", in terms of election violence as well", he said.
While sharing the Preliminary Assessment Report of the 65 constituencies covering the pre-poll and election day observation, he said that during election it was highly observed the ECP failed to take any concrete action against President Musharraf for holding rallies and running advertisement campaign in support of PML-Q. The exit polls were barred by the ECP for national and international election observers and media, yet the President kept predicting the number of seats for PML-Q.
The ECP could not exert control on political interference of local Nazims in favour of sitting government. It, despite its orders banning transfer of district administration, could not get its orders implemented. ECP's control over DRO and RO remained limited, as they were not under their executive order.
"On an average 75 percent of political parties supported their women candidates in election campaign by helping them arrange and support election activity, which really needs to be appreciated", said Aazar.
Total 41 women contested the elections for National Assembly on a political party's ticket, along with 31 independent contestants. At provincial level, 37 women were on a political party's ticket along with 83 independent contestants.
The average age of female contesting candidates was between 35-40 years. The education level can be categorised as high as almost 50 percent of women were Masters, 75 percent of contestants were married. As per the socio-economic status of their household, more than 70 percent were categorised as affluent, 60 percent constituents were receptive to women's role in politics, 70 percent belonged to political households being mother, daughter, mother, wife and/or daughter-in-law.
Besides this, the data, assessment scrutinised that voters list marginalized women as approximately 8-10 million women voters were missing from the list for a range of reasons. Increased female exclusive polling stations or booths could have facilitated women.
On the electoral day, numerous incidents of women being barred from voting were reported from the observed constituencies. While talking to the female voters at polling stations and booths it was determined that the voting choice is political party-based then the candidate-based.
For majority of women, voting preference was political party then a female candidate. Voting for a candidate/party was a family decision. The PPPP was able to bag women sympathy votes due to Benazir Bhutto's death as women labelled it "voting for God as she is dead."
The PML-N, however, gained from anti-PML-Q votes as flour crisis and rising inflation dejected the voters from PML-Q as some stated: "We cannot eat a road or school we need flour (Atta) to feed ourselves and family."
The polling process was slow especially in the morning at the female polling stations. The polling staff's training as described by majority was limited hence those who had not performed election duty earlier had to face difficulties.
In Bahawalpur and Shiekupura, Kasur, Sargodha, the observers were not allowed entry in some polling stations. After analysing the conditions and situation in which Election - 2008 was conducted, The Researchers has recommended, as the voters list was incomplete and controversial, therefore, the ECP should start efforts now to clean and update the data so that duplicate entries and missing women and youth can be added to list before LG-2009 elections. The voters list data be re-verified and linked with Nadra data base. The CNIC should be added into voters list.
The government and political parties should facilitate women to get CNIC. The polling station scheme should be prepared more scientifically and be known to all stakeholders at least one month before any election and be widely advertised by the ECP.
The ECP should ensure more female only polling stations and booths to facilitate women. Polling staff, especially female, should be identified at least 6 months before election to avoid last minute appointments and lapse of training. The ECP should utilise technical expertise to have all electoral process, rules and regulations gender sensitive than gender blind.
The ECP should maintain open door policy with civil society and build on the relationship developed in the Elections of 2008 as observers and monitors for mutual benefit. Political parties should mainstream women within their party from being member at different levels to manifesto so that to alleviate it from being window-dressing.