Pakistan General Elections, 11 May 2013

The report of the Commonwealth Observer Mission for the Pakistan elections, held 11 May 2013. The Mission was led by Sir Douglas Kidd, former Speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, and was comprised of 13 eminent persons. The Commonwealth Observer Mission found that, despite significant security concerns and election-related violence, Pakistani voters turned out in large numbers to cast their ballot and express their will. The report offered various recommendations to help improve aspects of the electoral process, including: the need to ensure greater inclusion and participation of women in the political and electoral process; overcoming the challenges faced by the Election Commission of Pakistan in ensuring enforcement of the campaign code of conduct; and a review of the limits on campaign spending.