Demands for an election audit in Pakistan are growing louder with each passing day; crescendo of concerns on the balloting, confusion of form 45 , and mystery of form 47 , consequently enigmatic and cryptic election results is on rising; like a harsh thumping section, the. This mounting escalating clamor is not coming from fringe groups or disgruntled losers, but from the very pillars of electoral integrity and human rights: the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). Their voices join a chorus of doubts regarding the legitimacy of the February 8th election results, echoing the anxieties of countless citizens.

Catalyst for this surge in scrutiny was a bombshell confession; former commissioner Rawalpindi admitted to tampering with results, casting a long shadow over the entire process. The HRCP, Pakistan’s leading human rights watchdog, immediately expressed profound reservations about the integrity and credibility of the elections, citing prayers of issues that had cast a shadow over the democratic process.

But the symphony of doubt doesn’t stop there, according to the FAFEN, Pakistan’s most conspicuous election monitoring body, echoed also these concerns. Urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take immediate action, they highlighted numerous complaints regarding illegalities in the result compilation process. A three phase audit encompassing every step of this process, aimed at comprehensively addressing the widespread allegations of rigging.

243 million Pakistani people are no strangers to post election contestations; defeated candidates routinely cast disparagements on the process, often irrespective of merit. On the other hand, this time, the anomalies are so blatant that even impartial observers are raising their voices. Witness accounts paint a picture of blatant disregard for both electoral laws and vote-counting protocols by many returning officers.

The exclusion of independent observers, candidates, and media personnel from the crucial Form 47 compilation process is particularly alarming also. This crucial safeguard was blatantly bypassed, raising serious questions about the transparency and integrity of the results. Compounding these concerns are discrepancies between the final results announced by returning officers and the consolidated results based on Form 45s provided to polling agents.

This detailed record offers a beacon of hope in the midst of the doubts. Fafen’s call for an ECP-led audit starting with this paper trail is a measured and reasonable response. With 60 days remaining until the official gazette publication of winning candidates, the ECP still has the power to adjudicate results.

Fafen’s suggestion to include independent observers and candidates in the audit is equally crucial. A transparent and inclusive process is essential to restore public confidence and resolve all controversies definitively. These proposals are not merely requests; they are pathways to redemption for the ECP.

The question now hangs heavy in the air; will the ECP choose to listen? Will it seize this opportunity to assert itself as an independent and principled body, committed to upholding the sanctity of the democratic process? Or will it continue to turn a deaf ear to the symphony of doubts, further eroding its own credibility and jeopardizing the faith of the Pakistani people in their elections?

The answer to this question will determine the future of Pakistani democracy. The ECP must choose wisely, for the future of the nation rests on its decision. The chorus of doubts may be growing louder, but it is not too late for the ECP to conduct the audit and restore the harmony of trust in the electoral system.