The Suppressed Commonwealth Report on Pakistan’s 2024 Elections
In February 2024, Pakistan conducted a general election that served as a crucial test of its fragile democracy. On the surface, the polls seemed like another exercise in routine political change. However, beneath the surface, widespread fraud, intimidation, and manipulation orchestrated by the country’s powerful military establishment marred the results. What makes this election particularly significant is not only the manipulation itself but also the deliberate suppression of international reports documenting it.
One such report, produced by the Commonwealth of Nations, has now been leaked to journalists. The findings are damning: restrictions on free speech, harassment of political opponents, media blackouts, internet shutdowns, and direct tampering with election results. Yet, instead of publishing this report as it always has in the past, the Commonwealth Secretariat buried it—bowing to pressure from Pakistan’s government and military leaders.
This decision matters. International election observer reports aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and credibility in democratic processes. By hiding the truth, the Commonwealth not only betrayed its mission but also shielded an authoritarian regime from global scrutiny. For Pakistanis who turned out in massive numbers to support the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the suppression of the report felt like an international endorsement of their disenfranchisement.
This article breaks down the key elements of the suppressed report, the reasons behind its burial, and what it reveals about the growing crisis of democracy in Pakistan.
The Commonwealth Election Observer Group (EOG)
The Commonwealth has long positioned itself as a champion of democracy among its 56 member states. Election monitoring is one of its most visible functions, with observer groups dispatched to member nations to assess whether elections meet international democratic standards.
For Pakistan’s February 2024 election, the Commonwealth Secretariat sent a 13-member Election Observer Group (EOG). The mission was led by Goodluck Jonathan, the former president of Nigeria, who has experience in navigating contested elections and democratic transitions. The team was composed of experts in constitutional law, electoral systems, and governance.
In the immediate aftermath of the election, the EOG issued a cautiously optimistic statement. This is standard practice: observers usually refrain from harsh criticism before completing their full report. Their preliminary comments often emphasise voter enthusiasm and the peaceful conduct of polling day, leaving space for more comprehensive assessments later.
However, the final report told a very different story. It detailed how Pakistan’s military-backed authorities undermined fundamental rights such as freedom of association, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression. It described systematic disadvantages imposed on Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party and raised serious concerns about vote manipulation.
The contrast between the EOG’s initial public statements and the damning conclusions of the suppressed report is striking. While the public heard messages of cautious approval, the real findings exposed one of the most fraudulent elections in Pakistan’s modern history.
Why the Report Was Suppressed
After the EOG submitted its report to the Commonwealth Secretariat, it informally shared the findings with the Pakistani government. Rather than embracing transparency, Pakistani officials promptly requested that the report remain unpublished. The reasoning was simple: the findings would erode the new government’s legitimacy and spark political unrest.
Shockingly, the Commonwealth Secretariat complied. Under then-Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, the organisation shelved the report. For the first time in its 70-year history, the Commonwealth failed to publish an election observer report.
This decision cannot be overstated. The Commonwealth’s credibility depends on its impartiality. Election monitoring only matters if observers can speak freely and truthfully about what they saw. By silencing its own observers, the organisation undermined its mandate and raised questions about whether it values diplomatic convenience over democratic principles.
Sources inside the Commonwealth indicated that Pakistan’s lobbying played a major role. The government argued that publishing the report would “destabilise” the country and inflame tensions. But the real reason was clear: the findings exposed the military’s manipulation of the democratic process.
For Pakistanis, the suppression of the report reinforced what many already suspected—that the international community, including organisations like the Commonwealth, was willing to look the other way as long as the military regime remained aligned with Western geopolitical interests.
Key Findings of the Leaked Report
The leaked Commonwealth report is the most detailed on-the-ground documentation of Pakistan’s 2024 election irregularities. While couched in diplomatic language, its findings are blunt and undeniable.
- Suppression of PTI and Supporters
The report highlights how state institutions systematically limited PTI’s ability to compete fairly. This included a ban on the party itself, forcing candidates to run as independents, and the prohibition of its iconic election symbol. PTI leaders and activists faced arrests, raids, and harassment, creating an atmosphere of fear. - Communication Blackouts
On election day, the government deliberately shut down cellular networks and disrupted internet access. This crippled the digital results transmission system, reducing transparency. The report noted that these disruptions coincided with PTI’s online campaigning and fundraising events, suggesting deliberate targeting. - Vote Manipulation
Observers found discrepancies between polling station results and tabulated constituency results. The report, using diplomatic yet damning language, claimed that this may have led to some candidates being “unlawfully returned.” This phrase directly accuses the authorities of rigging the results to favour pro-military candidates. - Fundamental Rights Violated
The report accuses the government of restricting freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Authorities throttled media outlets, banned PTI rallies, and silenced opposition figures through intimidation. - Voter Turnout vs. Results
Despite a record turnout among youth and women, the results failed to accurately reflect many of their votes. This discrepancy further undermines the credibility of the election.
In short, the Commonwealth report confirmed what Pakistanis on the ground already knew: the 2024 election was not a fair contest but a carefully managed operation to keep the military’s preferred politicians in power.
The Military’s Grip on Pakistan’s Politics
To understand why the 2024 election was manipulated so aggressively, one must look at the broader role of Pakistan’s military in politics. The military has long acted as the ultimate arbiter of power in the country, repeatedly toppling governments and reshaping politics to its advantage.
The crisis began in 2022 when a no-confidence vote, heavily orchestrated by the military, led to the removal of then-Prime Minister Imran Khan. Leaked diplomatic cables later revealed that U.S. officials had privately warned Pakistan of “consequences” if Khan remained in power, largely due to his refusal to align with the West on the Ukraine war. Soon after, Khan was jailed on corruption charges widely seen as politically motivated.
In the run-up to the 2024 election, the military sought to crush Khan’s PTI through legal bans, intimidation, and arrests. Yet despite this, PTI still drew massive crowds and generated unprecedented public energy. This posed a direct threat to the establishment, which then resorted to manipulating the vote count itself.
Television broadcasts on election night initially showed PTI candidates with overwhelming leads. But suddenly, coverage went dark. When it resumed hours later, results had flipped in favour of pro-military candidates. To ordinary Pakistanis, it was obvious what had happened—the vote had been stolen in plain sight.
The Commonwealth report’s acknowledgement of this manipulation is therefore explosive. It validates what millions of Pakistanis experienced and what independent media documented on the ground.
