The general elections held in Pakistan on February 8, 2024, have been overshadowed by credible reports of serious procedural irregularities that require urgent scrutiny and an independent, authoritative review. Concerns about lack of transparency, communication blackouts, and unexplained delays in reporting results have raised significant doubts about the integrity and legality of the electoral process. These issues undermine public trust and violate core principles of free, fair, and credible elections.

We call upon the European External Action Service (EEAS) to immediately release the European Union’s official report on the 2024 Pakistan elections. Withholding key findings related to alleged electoral manipulation, administrative irregularities, and potential interference - including widely reported claims of undue involvement by the military establishment - is a direct barrier to transparency and democratic accountability.

Publishing the report is essential to ensure public oversight and protect the legitimacy of the electoral process.

Transparency is a fundamental democratic obligation recognized by the EU, the United Nations, and the OSCE. Every vote must be cast and counted free from manipulation. However, the 2024 elections were marked by restricted access to information and a climate of opacity, raising concerns among civil society, observers, and the wider electorate.

The communication blackouts that occurred during and after polling severely hindered the ability of journalists, observers, and citizens to access reliable information. Such information gaps fuel misinformation, prevent independent verification, and weaken public confidence in the credibility of the results.

Additionally, prolonged, unexplained delays in announcing the results constitute a major procedural failure. International standards require that results be reported promptly, transparently, and verifiably to maintain both electoral credibility and political stability.

Given these serious concerns, there is a compelling need for an independent, comprehensive, and impartial investigation into the 2024 elections. Such a review is vital to restoring public confidence, identifying systemic failures, and ensuring future elections comply fully with domestic law and international democratic standards.

In particular, the continued imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, widely regarded by national and international observers as politically motivated, represents a grave injustice and a direct assault on democratic pluralism. His detention, alongside the arbitrary arrest and harassment of political activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and figures such as Mahrang Baloch, exemplifies a systematic crackdown on dissenting voices.

Furthermore, the detention of numerous political prisoners without due process, and the use of military courts to try civilians, constitute serious violations of Pakistan’s constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations, including the right to a fair trial, judicial independence, and civilian supremacy over the military. The expansion of military jurisdiction over civilians has created a climate of fear, silenced opposition, and further eroded confidence in democratic governance.

We call upon the European External Action Service (EEAS) to immediately release the European Union’s official report on the 2024 Pakistan elections. Withholding key findings related to alleged electoral manipulation, administrative irregularities, and potential interference—including widely reported claims of undue involvement by the military establishment—poses a direct barrier to transparency and democratic accountability.

Publishing this report is essential to ensure public oversight, uphold democratic norms, and protect the legitimacy of the electoral process.

Transparency is a fundamental democratic obligation recognized by the European Union, the United Nations, and the OSCE. Every vote must be cast and counted free from coercion or manipulation. However, the 2024 elections were conducted amid restricted access to information and a climate of opacity, raising serious concerns among civil society organizations, election observers, and the electorate at large.

The communication blackouts during and after polling severely hindered the ability of journalists, observers, and citizens to access reliable information. These information gaps foster misinformation, obstruct independent verification, and further weaken public confidence in the credibility of the electoral outcome.

Additionally, prolonged and unexplained delays in announcing election results represent a major procedural failure. International electoral standards require results to be reported promptly, transparently, and verifiably to maintain electoral credibility and political stability.

Given the cumulative impact of electoral irregularities, political repression, unjust detentions, and the use of military courts against civilians, there is an urgent and compelling need for an independent, comprehensive, and impartial investigation into the 2024 elections and the broader democratic environment in Pakistan.

Such a review is vital to restoring public trust, identifying systemic abuses, and ensuring that future elections comply fully with domestic law and international democratic and human rights standards.

We urge national and international authorities, including the European Union and relevant UN mechanisms, to take immediate action by:
 • Releasing all withheld election assessment reports
 • Calling for the release of political prisoners detained without due process
 • Condemning the trial of civilians in military courts
 • Supporting an independent review of the 2024 electoral process

We urge national and international authorities to take immediate action by initiating an independent review of the 2024 electoral process. The people of Pakistan have an undeniable right to a transparent, accountable, and lawful electoral system that truly reflects the will of the voters.

 

NGO: ABABEEL RY

BUSINESS ID: 3578140-9

REGISTRATION NUMBER: 962.106

EMAIL: SUPPORT@ABABEEL.ORG

 

NGO: EUROPAK

REGISTRATION NUMBER: 78479

EMAIL: INFO@EURO-PAK.ORG

 

NGO: CENTER OF PAKISTANI STUDES LTD
COMPANY NUMBER: 16830200

 

CALL-TO-ACTION: BY SIGNING THIS PETITION, YOU STAND FOR TRANSPARENCY, DEMOCRACY, AND THE INTEGRITY OF PAKISTAN’S ELECTORAL SYSTEM. YOUR VOICE MATTERS.