Date : October 2nd - October 11th 1993
Host : The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Washington DC.
Topic: The purpose of this visit was to participate in a 35 member international team to observe the National Assembly Elections in Pakistan which were held on October 6th 1993.

The National Democratic Institute is affiliated with the United States Democratic Party and has been active for eight years working in over 50 countries around the world. The organisation focusses on democratisation in countries that have not had democracy before or are attempting to regain it and it tries to help in the process of democratisation and choice implementation. These functions have, in the past, proved to be practical ways to help such as teaching people how to use polling machines, monitoring elections or training local people how to monitor elections. There are other practical things done in connection with education or liasing with NGOs. It considers itself an information resource, not an academic centre or donor agency and also advises on a variety of things such as the design of election systems and illiteracy.

The National Democratic Institute invited Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi to be a part of their second international observation team for the Pakistani elections, NDI had first played this role in Pakistan in the 1990 elections. Other international observation teams were from the European Community and the Commonwealth. Dr. Abdul Hadi's participation in the NDI team was with the knowledge and affirmation of the Political Department of the PLO in Tunis and is the first time that a Palestinian has participated in an international team for election observation.

On election day, October 6th, members of the delegation visited polling stations in rural and urban areas throughout the nation and Dr. Abdul Hadi was placed in the North West town of Peshawar. Prior to this a few days were spent meeting with government and election officials, leaders of the major parties, NGOs and journalists. Campaign strategies of each party and the media coverage were closely observed.

The NDI team, while agreeing that their overall observations of the electoral process in Pakistan were encouraging, had several comments about ways in which it could be developed. The electoral rolls needed to be fully updated and the lack of participation of women in elections needs to be seriously addressed. Women suffered from problems of illiteracy, disinclination to vote due to social and cultural factors and lack of organisation in areas where they were expected to vote. This often manifested itself in presiding officers not bothering to set up the polling facilities because of expectations that women would not come to vote anyway. One of Dr. Abdul Hadi's main concerns was illiteracy and how this can be overcome in order to ensure a greater participation in the electoral process. There were delays in the opening of polling stations which also caused certain problems and some parties and candidates often ignored legal requirements regarding campaign spending. The role of the armed forces in Pakistan electoral process was generally seen positively by the delegation. It was, however, thought imperative that other institutions such as the media, civic organisations, the electoral commission and the government itself, be strengthened to obviate the need for such a large military role. Dr. Abdul Hadi felt that the military presence was overbearing.

Given the events of 1993 and the possibility of democratic reform and future elections in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, to observe the electoral process in Pakistan and gain a practical awareness of the procedures and possible problems that can arise, has proved an invaluable source of information and experience.

In December PASSIA hosted a roundtable meeting for an international survey team from the National Democratic Institute, Washington, DC in which current Palestinian perspectives were discussed at length along with the possiblities of NDI playing a future role.