Former President Goodluck Jonathan has been appointed as the head of the Commonwealth’s Election Observation Mission for Pakistan’s general elections scheduled for February 8, 2024. The Commonwealth of Nations is an international association of 56 member states, many of which are former territories of the British Empire.
Jonathan will lead a team of multidisciplinary experts from across the Commonwealth to observe the elections and provide an independent and comprehensive assessment of the electoral process. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, commended Jonathan for accepting the assignment and noted that the observer group would benefit from his leadership, experience, and wisdom.
The 13-member Observer Group is set to arrive in Islamabad on February 1, 2024, and will stay in the country until the electoral process is completed. The group will assess the conduct of the entire process and make recommendations for strengthening the electoral system if necessary. The Commonwealth Secretariat expressed readiness to assist with the process if deemed necessary.
During their stay in Pakistan, members of the observer group will meet with various stakeholders, including political parties, election officials, the media, and civil society groups. The group will observe all aspects of the election process, from the opening of polling stations and the voting process to the counting of ballots and the announcement of results. After the election day, the group will hold a press conference and issue an interim statement with preliminary findings. A final report, including recommendations for improving future electoral processes, will be presented to the government of Pakistan and the Election Commission, and shared with other stakeholders.
