On Monday 16 August the Free and Fair Election Network launched the first two reports from its IFES funded Political and Electoral Violence Education and Resolution (PEVER) project. The project has used FAFEN’s field monitors in 150 constituencies throughout Pakistan to report on and verify incidences of political and electoral violence since October 2009. The first two reports cover the period of 15 October 2009 to 31 May 2010.
Over 800 incidents of political and electoral violence were reported in this period, with over 1,900 deaths caused by these incidents. The most frequent targets of political violence were state security forces; 193 reported incidents (24%) were targeted against state security forces. Terrorist attacks aimed at the general public numbered 115 (14%), and attacks on political parties numbered 100 (12%). The highest number of incidents of political violence occurred in Balochistan, where 336 incidents were reported - almost 42% of the total reported incidents between October 15, 2009 and May 31, 2010.