I am trying to hunt down some statistics of Past elections in Pakistan which give details on all aspects of the elections. Especially parties names, # of people elected from the party vs. # of people contested from that party etc. It will be great if there are some stats on how much money did one candidate spent and his/her education … but I guess that will be asking too much.
Websites will be helpful but even if there are books out there with this kinda information, please let me know.
Re: Statistics of past Elections in Pakistan
Here is some food for thought.
Benazir apprises EU on ‘rigging’ methods
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and the chairperson Pakistan People’s Party, Benazir Bhutto, has apprised the European Union Chief Election Observer John Cushnahan of rigging methods used in the past elections and sought his support for raising the issue with the Election Commission and the regime.
She has also suggested remedies so that such rigging could not take place in the coming polls. In a letter written to EU observer she has mentioned detail rigging method used in the past elections. Benazir writes, “Eye witness evidence from previous rigged elections informs us that first a list is prepared of the candidates. Then the names of the ‘winning’ candidates are ticked by military headquarters as well as the president. Virtual votes are then cast for those candidates usually from marginal seats but also from others.”
She writes, “The rigging of the elections of 1990 and 1997 created voters disillusionment. Voters see little reason to turn out for casting their vote when the results are prejudged.” “Past experience shows us that little rigging takes place during the day due to the presence of the monitors.”
She alleged that due to this faulty method although the press reported voters turnout in 1997 elections as 16 percent, the Election Commission results showed that in the Punjab alone almost fifty percent votes were cast. Elections in the Punjab were one hundred percent rigged whereas in the other provinces the percentage varied and so did the official turn out figures."
She expressed concern that the computerization of the count has, according to reports, been given to a company called ‘Nestol’ which is managed by a cabinet minister. There is a direct conflict of interest with a sitting minister benefiting himself from cabinet contracts."
She also pointed out various faults in the counting process adopted by the Election Commission. She also mentioned defective process adopted by the Election Tribunal. Benazir Bhutto writes that she was at loss as to why the Election Commission insists that it would announce the final result ‘later on’. She claimed that it is this “later on” which opens the doors to rigging.
Suggesting the remedies, the chairperson PPP writes “Our proposal for multi card voter identity based on passport identity, motor license identity or any other photographic identity is yet to be implemented. The single identity card for cast of vote leads to wide spread abuses.”
If there was only 17% voter turn out, how many % did she get. Even if she got half, it amounts to 8%. She wants to rule over Pakistan with only 8% support.
And yes. She can give out all the tricks involved in rigging, becasue she is an expert in this art.
may be this will help
http://www.saeedshafqat.com.pk/publications/publications_2000/democracy_in_pakistan_2000_1.html
Have you tried the Election Comission of Pakistans web site?
Theres a book published by OUP or Vanguard in Pakistan which deals with elections in Punjab.
The CEC’s is http://www.cec.com.pk I think
The Official Web site for the Election Commission is