Issack Hassan Among Commonwealth Election Observers in Pakistan
Issack Hassan, the ex-chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), has been appointed as a member of a 13-person Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) tasked with overseeing the electoral process in Pakistan.
The team from the Commonwealth, headed by ex-Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, is set to be sent to Pakistan to monitor the upcoming general elections slated for February 8, 2024.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Patricia Scotland KC conveyed the assurance that the team would deliver an impartial and thorough evaluation of the electoral procedures.
“I applaud Pakistan’s commitment to transparency and accountability. The Commonwealth is pleased to support Pakistan’s democratic journey. We look forward to peaceful and fair elections,” Patricia said.
She mentioned that the Election Commission of Pakistan had specifically requested the team’s selection via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The team has arrived in Islamabad and intends to stay there throughout the entirety of the electoral procedure.
“The observer team will assess the overall conduct of the process and, where appropriate, make recommendations for further strengthening of the electoral system. It is hoped that these recommendations will be useful to the people and government of Pakistan in strengthening their electoral processes”.
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The members of the EOM will engage in discussions with various stakeholders, such as political party representatives, election officials, media participants, and civil society organizations.
Additional participants in the group consist of Dr. Linet Damaris Njeri Muthoni representing Australia, Ms. Barbara Malimali hailing from Fiji, Ms. Nazima Natasha Raghubir from Guyana, Ms. Anahila Lose Kanongata’a JP representing New Zealand, Ms. Belinda Kora from Papua New Guinea, Ms. Sarah Lucy Flood-Beaubrun from St Lucia, Mr. Umaru Fofana representing Sierra Leone, Mr. Mohamed Mahdoom Mohamed from Sri Lanka, Mr. Brian Speers from the United Kingdom, Mr. Mohamed Chande Othman from Tanzania, and Mr. Jacob Goma from Zambia.
He held the position of IEBC Chairperson from November 2011 until October 6, 2016. He, along with other IEBC Commissioners, stepped down to make room for the new team headed by Mr. Wafula Chebukati, responsible for overseeing Kenya’s elections in 2017 and 2023.
Issack served as the chairperson of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) from May 2009 to November 2011.
In 2011, Issack was appointed to lead the African Union Observer Mission to Nigeria and subsequently functioned as an observer during the 2012 elections in Ghana.
Issack Hassan Among Commonwealth Election Observers in Pakistan
