LONDON, CMC – Two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals are among a 13-member Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) deployed to Pakistan to observe the general 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 in the team headed by Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the former President of Nigeria.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC said the observer group will offer an independent and comprehensive assessment of the electoral process and will assess the conduct of the process as a whole and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the further strengthening the electoral system.
“It is hoped that these recommendations will benefit the people and government of Pakistan in strengthening their electoral processes. The Commonwealth Secretariat would be ready to assist with this process if necessary.
“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,” she added.
She also called on all stakeholders, including political parties and their supporters, to contribute to a peaceful election in keeping with the Commonwealth values.
The London-based Commonwealth Secretariat said that during their stay, the members of the observer group will be stationed throughout the country, and they will be supported by a team from the Secretariat led by Linford Andrews, Adviser and Head of the Electoral Support Section.
“On election day, members of the COG will observe and consider all aspects of the election process across Pakistan- from the opening of polling stations and the voting process to the counting of ballots and announcement of results. Following election day, the group will hold a press conference and issue an interim statement with its preliminary findings.
“A final report, which will include recommendations to help improve future electoral processes, will be presented to the government of Pakistan and the Election Commission. The report will also be shared with other stakeholders,” the Secretariat said.
The election is taking place in an agitated atmosphere after former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were given 14-year jail sentences, the second sentence handed to Pakistan’s former prime minister in two days.
The couple was convicted of illegally profiting from state gifts a week before the general election, in 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 term for corruption.
He has said the numerous cases against him are politically motivated.
The former prime minister and international cricket star has been detained since last August when he was arrested, while his wife, who had been out on remand, surrendered at the jail on Wednesday.
He has told his followers, “Take revenge for every injustice with your vote on February 8 while remaining peaceful”.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which has denounced the jail sentences, said the authorities have been carrying out a crackdown on PTI and that many of its leaders are now behind bars or have defected. Its candidates are standing as independents, and many are on the run.
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