Pakistan has been facing numerous key public sector challenges such as transformation of traditional public administration to new public management system leading towards public value management model in Pakistan electoral system. This is similar to what we have in other developed countries like UK, Canada and Australia. Almost after 70 years of its independence, government yet failed to conduct a single fair election through unanimously accepted voting process by public and private organizations. In fact, most of the times; final results of elections were challenged by losing parties based on the number of complaints of election rigging and bogus old fashioned voting system. This situation was become more worsen during the last election held in 2013, when all parties blamed for ballot theft and voters were in streets for their protests against failure of this system. Unlike Australia, Pakistani election is based on First-past-the-post voting method instead of Preferential Voting. Further, separation of power is also similar to UK, Australia like separate legislatures, executive and judiciary. Under the constitutional frame of work, elections are to be held after each 5 years which in fact happened earlier before completing the tenure of government. Some of the details are given here, important is to look into the comparison of %age voting between ruling party and the opposition parties. On recent Pakistani election, observations of international organizations were important for the institutional improvement and revealing hindrances of public participation.

1. Muhammad Yasir Arslan (3178801)
May 2017
ASSESSMENT 3a:
Presentation on Key Public Sector Challenges
“Drawing upon previous
experience and building
for the future”
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2. Public Sector Reforms in Theory:
 ‘Deliberate changes to the structures and processes of public sector organizations with the
objective of getting them (in some sense) to run better’
(Pollitt and Bouckaert 2011:2)
 ‘Currently, our thinking on reform focuses on distinct levels of analysis but not on the whole
picture. Moving forward, we must begin to think about reform differently as a much more
interrelated and dynamic series of processes’
(Janine O’Flynn 2015)
 ‘Reform is never far from the centre of public administration practice and true and lasting
reform is not easy, given the resilience of the status quo’
(Doug McTaggart, 2015)
 ‘Macro-level reform is about re-designing systems, or ‘public management policy’ to
transform institutions and the rules of the game (reformist model)’
(Michael Barzelay, 2002)
 ‘Many reforms are not clear-cut but rather emerge or remain undefined and combine many
NPM- and non-NPM-style reform elements.’
(Steven Van & Gerhard, 2011)

3. Why Electoral Reforms are Necessary?
In all countries either developed or developing democracies; the legal framework
and administrative procedures for elections need to be
• organic,
• demanding systematic examination and
• modification in shape of institutional and procedural reforms.
This is to echo a wider global political improvement involving in continuous efforts to
sustain confidence in the effectiveness of any democratic system which makes sure
• electoral processes are receptive and inclusive,
• aligned with the expectations of electoral stakeholders and
• guaranteeing compliance with international standards.

4. Electoral Arrangement in Pakistan:
• Bicameral federal legislature, Senate as upper house & National Assembly as lower house
• Federal and National Assembly Election after each 5 years, (342 direct and reserved seats)
• Provincial Assembly Election after each 5 years (728 members, direct and reserved seats)
• Senators elected by Members of Provincial Assembly/ Provincial Legislators (100 Senators)
• Winning Party (PML-N) Popular votes = 33%
• Opposition Parties Popular votes = 67%
A political party must secure 172 seats to obtain and preserve a majority
(above 50% of total seats in National Assembly)
First-past-the-post voting method is one of several plurality voting methods (i.e. each voter is
allowed to vote for only one candidate) which is similar to India, UK and Canada.
“Non Proportional Representation System”

5. History & Background of Electoral Reforms in Pakistan:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was formed
in 1956 who by its function must be an independent and
autonomous federal institute, responsible for arranging and
conducting governments elections.
ECP has a 5-member panel (retired Judges), out of which 4
members are from each of the four provinces (equal
representation irrespective of population).
• In recent 2013 elections, uprisings were blown up in all
major towns of Pakistan after the announcement of the
election results complaining about bogus votes, massive
rigging, ballot paper stuffing, use of non-magnetic ink,
missing thumb prints, printing of extra ballot papers,
multiple voting and a host of other irregularities.
• (ECP) denied all charges. The government appointed a
Judicial Commission i.e. a special parliamentary
committee for electoral reforms was constituted.

6. National and International Election Observation:
1- UN Development Programme (UNDP)
As per a nationwide survey arranged by UNDP, 49% people were not satisfied
with the existing electoral system while 55 % requested for electoral reforms.
2- European Union Election Observer Mission (EUEOMs)
Central problems have remained with the legal framework and the application
of certain provisions, leaving future processes susceptible to malpractice. Also,
Pakistan remained unsuccessful in meeting its obligations to provide citizens
the right and opportunity to stand as candidates and to vote in state elections.
3- Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
The voter turnout was more than 100% in 49 polling stations out of around
8,120 polling stations as sampled by FAFEN across the country.
4- Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT).
Though charges of rigging and irregularities were levelled by different political
parties and individuals in their own constituencies however, the overall quality
of elections showed a considerable improvement from the previous elections.

7. Why Election Commission always Unsuccessful?
Reasons why ECP has remained outdated and incurable
so far:
• Appointment of the chief election commissioner and the
four ECP members by political parties “in government”.
• Un-natural for people in power to make enhancements
and reformative actions that will destroy their own
prospects for power through elections by commoners.
• ECP, being an extension of a dysfunctional colonial
establishment which have no will or the capacity to
implement or improve the electoral process on its own.
• Old fashioned electoral system, use of ballot papers,
normal ink and thumb-print voting process.
• Institutional failure due to absence of autonomy and
lack of modern technologies.
The entire electoral process
needs to be re-addressed and
re-engineered

8. Public Interests in Election:
Elections are just a source of?Believe in Election as Democracy Electoral turnouts %ages
What's
wrong?
Answer: Public Sector Reforms:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) prepared and unveiled a 5
years strategic plan to improve the election process as part of electoral
reforms meeting international election standards consists of 129 objectives
listed under their 15 strategic goals.
Source: Election Commission of Pakistan: https://www.ecp.gov.pk/

9. Proposed Election Reforms:
Sr.
No.
Strategic Goals
No. of
Objectives
Objectives’ outputs
1 Improving legal framework for elections 4 Legal framework committee was formed
2 Improving the election operations 19 Simplification of election-related forms and utilizing of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)
3
Improvement in the registration of voters and preparation of credible, accurate, up-to-
date and accessible electoral rolls
12 Computerized electoral rolls
4
Establishing an effective and transparent election complaints and disputes resolution
mechanism
4 Designation of officers to deal with complaints
5 Restructuring the election commission of Pakistan 7
Re-organization plan of ECP at the secretariat, provincial, divisional and districts levels
(partial decentralization)
6 Improving the infrastructure, logistics and equipment for ECP offices 11 Government and international donors for funding.
7 Improving the human resources of ECP 10 A detailed human resource policy was developed
8 Attaining complete financial autonomy and appropriate funding for ECP 4 Similar to legislatures
9 Institutionalizing training, research evaluation in ECP 18
18 Training manuals and handbooks were developed, more positions were created for
strengthening the federal election academy
10 Promoting the use of IT in ECP operation 8
Objectives, a comprehensive IT policy for ECP was formulated in line with NADRA
including re-design of website.
11
Improving the public outreach and interaction with political parties, civil society and the
media
5
ECP established two Political consultative forum and civil, society consultative forum and
consulted them in EVMs and reforms. Permanent media centre
12 Strengthening of participation of political parties and candidates 6
Appropriate legal amendments to improve transparency of political finance. Committed to
upload statement of assets by all legislatures on ECP website
13 Enhancing the participation of voters and improving the civic and voters education 10 Enhance the voters turnout from 44% up to 63% by civic and voters education strategies.
14
Improving the participation of marginalised groups including women, minorities and
persons with disabilities in the electoral process
6 To support the adoption of legislation on participation of persons particularly transgender.
15 Creating a refreshing and dynamic branding of the election commission 3 A distinct and uniform design for the divisional and districts buildings and signboards.
EU Election Observation Mission made 50 recommendations to improve the election process

10. Major Suggestions - Electoral Reforms:
• A new census, followed by the fresh delimitation of constituencies to ensure that the
population in all electoral constituencies is equal in size.
• Election commission members must be selected through parliamentary voting.
• Needs to replace the old voting system with proportional representation to ensure true
representation in proportion to legislatures' strength in their electorates.
• No more elections without Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
• Smart national identity cards, biometric identification and camera-monitored voting should
eliminate all opportunities for fake voting or fake counting.
• Parliament’s term to be reduced from 5 years which would create greater accountability
besides providing an early opportunity to change a low-performing government.
• Check and control on the candidate expenses during the election
campaign to give equal chances to more people with lesser budgets.
• Full independence and sufficient resources to Election Commission
to exert its authority over all aspects of electoral administration and
to ensure reforms are properly implemented.

11. Question:
Will recent electoral reforms and suggestions of international election
overserves improve the election procedures in Pakistan and enhance
its public confidence on coming future elections
OR
will it remain unfunctional and unsuccessful similar to all previous
reforms?

12. Online References:
1. PILDAT report, 2011, Sate of Electoral Reforms in Pakistan. Available at:
http://www.pildat.org/publications/publication/elections/StateOfElectoralReformsInPakistan_CitizensMonitoringRepor
t.pdf/
2. UNDP, 2014, Electoral Reforms in Pakistan: Perspectives and Opportunities. Available at:
http://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/electoral-reforms-pakistan-perspectives-and-opportunities
3. The News, 2015, How to improve electoral system in Pakistan. Available at: https://forpakistan.org/how-to-improve-
electoral-system-in-pakistan/
4. McTaggart Doug, 2015. Public Sector Reform: Business as Usual is Not an Option Available at:
http://content.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/ContentServer.asp
5. O’ Flynn Janine, 2015, Public Sector Reform: The Puzzle We Can Never Solve?. Available at:
http://content.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/ContentServer.asp
6. Steven Van de Walle and Gerhard Hammerschmid. 2011. “The Impact of the New Public Management: Challenges
for Coordination and Cohesion in European Public Sectors.” Halduskultuur – Administrative Culture 12 (2), 190-209
7. Wikipedia, Pakistani general election, 2013. Available at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_general_election,_2013