Commonwealth finds Pakistan’s 2024 election marred by curbs on PTI and voters’ rights

The Commonwealth Observer Group has sharply criticised Pakistan’s 2024 general election in its final report, warning that the polls were undermined by restrictions on political freedoms and unfair treatment of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Released on Tuesday, 18 months after the vote, the report said PTI’s ability to contest was “consistently limited.” The group expressed concern over the non-allocation of the party’s bat symbol, which forced candidates to run as independents. While the decision had a legal basis, observers said its consequences were “vastly disproportionate.”

The report highlighted that Khan was convicted in three cases just days before the election and that PTI leaders and supporters faced arrests, detentions, and raids. It said such actions directly curtailed rights of association and assembly.

“Limitations were felt most acutely by PTI and its supporters,” the observers noted, adding that freedoms of speech and press were also restricted. The report pointed to “a culture of impunity for perpetrators of violence against journalists,” which contributed to self-censorship.

Concerns were also raised about election-day practices. A nationwide shutdown of mobile phone services reduced transparency, while discrepancies between polling station forms and constituency-level results suggested that “some candidates may have been unlawfully returned.”

The observers criticised media coverage, stating that Pakistan Television Corporation disproportionately favoured the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Broadcasters were reportedly barred from mentioning Imran Khan by name, referring to him only as PTI’s chair.

“These developments may have impinged on the credibility, transparency and inclusiveness of the electoral process,” the Commonwealth group concluded, accusing authorities of violating fundamental political rights, including freedoms of association, assembly and expression.