The 8 February 2024 general elections have concluded relatively peacefully, with a reasonable voter turnout of 47 percent. An estimated 60 million people have exercised their right to vote for 265 National Assembly and 590 provincial assembly constituencies. In a positive sign, this election has brought to office 12 women—the highest ever number elected to general seats. However, the perception of having held a smooth, orderly election is as important as making it appear to be a credible exercise. Sadly, elections in this country have suffered from a consistent crisis of integrity. The 2024 election too was preceded by a long period of political turmoil and polarization, punctuated by violence perpetrated by militants, raising doubts as to the certainty and fairness of the polls, alongside hopes that they would usher in sorely needed political and economic stability. Soon after polling began on 8 February, people realized that an internet and cellular services shutdown had occurred across the country; it remained in place until the following morning. This affected not only the polling process, but also how it was reported by the media. With last-minute changes in voters’ polling stations in many cases, people found it difficult to obtain the necessary

Elections in Pakistan are a contested subject, with the losing side invariably questioning the election’s outcome. The role of undemocratic forces in manipulating the election results has now been established beyond a doubt, putting the integrity of the whole exercise under question. Since elections play a vital role in the strengthening of democracy by letting the people express their will through their votes, this lack of credibility has had serious conse- quences for the country’s political stability. It would not be incorrect to say that unelected forces in Pakistan consider the electoral sys- tem as a mere tool to fulfill the claims of procedural democracy, which effectively does little to change the balance of power in favour of elected people. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has remained committed to the ideals of constitutionalism, democratic governance and the rule of law for decades. Electoral reforms to bring about free and fair elections are hence crucial in fulfilling these ideals. While ac- knowledging that elections everywhere are in need of constant reform, HRCP feels it impera- tive to address serious gaps in Pakistan’s electoral system, not only with regards to the obvious credibility crisis but also pertaining to how the