LONDON / ISLAMABAD – The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) has explained that the time taken to complete and publish election observation reports “varies considerably” between missions, confirming that its report on Pakistan’s 2024 general elections was finalized by the end of 2024 and released to the public on September 30, 2025.
The clarification comes after media speculation suggested that the Commonwealth had delayed or buried the report due to its criticism of the election process.
According to the statement issued on Tuesday, the COG’s 160-page report was submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary General on November 20, 2024. The organization said delays were caused by legal challenges, internal review processes, and consultations with Pakistani authorities. “The length of time taken to write and release reports varies with each COG. In this case, a comprehensive report of over 160 pages was finalized by the end of 2024,” the statement read.
The Commonwealth Secretariat said it first shared the report with the Government of Pakistan and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) earlier this year to encourage a domestic mechanism for reviewing and addressing the COG’s recommendations.
Read More: Ishaq Dar to Strengthen Ties During UK Visit
It added that the Pakistan report, along with those for Mozambique and Botswana, was released simultaneously at the end of September 2025.
The organization emphasized that it remains committed to transparency and democratic values, in line with the Commonwealth Charter and the 2018 Revised Guidelines for Election Observation, which require reports to be shared first with member governments and key stakeholders before public release. “We strongly encourage all stakeholders to use the report constructively, in service of the people of Pakistan,” the statement said. “We remain ready to support any mechanism aimed at strengthening democracy in Pakistan.”
The Commonwealth Guidelines clearly state that election reports “must be issued in a “timely manner, initially to key national stakeholders and then made public” and specifically identify all “political parties taking part in the elections” as key stakeholders. This was not done. https://t.co/IvdXKOkX4B
— salman akram raja (@salmanAraja) October 8, 2025
The clarification followed a letter from 130 Pakistani activists, journalists, and lawyers on October 2, expressing concern over the “extraordinary delay” and urging the Commonwealth to uphold its own transparency standards.
The COG’s report had noted unequal conditions during Pakistan’s 2024 elections, pointing to the denial of PTI’s election symbol, the convictions of party founder Imran Khan, and restrictions on political gatherings, saying these issues limited one party’s ability to compete fairly.
Read More: Pakistan Wins Commonwealth Beach Handball Championship Final
It also highlighted allegations that Form-45s were altered, potentially affecting vote counts.
Responding to the Commonwealth’s clarification, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said that “the report was not shared in a timely manner” with all political stakeholders as required by Commonwealth rules.
At the time of the elections, COG Chairperson Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had acknowledged challenges in the political environment but urged all parties to resolve disputes through legal and electoral mechanisms.