Data compiled by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) revealed that although an intra-party election is a legal requirement, most political parties have not held one in years. PHOTO: FILE
With the polls looming ever closer, most political parties have failed to fulfill one of the most crucial requirements of holding intra-party elections.
Holding these elections is not only part of every political party’s election manifesto but is also a legal requirement under the election laws of the country.
Data compiled by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) revealed that although an intra-party election is a legal requirement, most political parties have not held one in years.
The Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League -Quaid, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, Pakistan Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Qaumi Watan Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl registered under Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal are among the 114 parties that have not held intra-party elections before the general elections and within the time frame given in their manifestoes.
Under its party manifesto, the ruling PPP is meant to hold elections every two years. However, the last time it did so was in 2006.
Likewise, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which held its last intra-party elections almost 11 years back in 2002, is meant to hold the polls every four years.
Meanwhile, religious parties have also failed to fulfill the constitutional requirement. Religious parties – which contested in the 2002 elections, under the banner of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), while the JUI-F contested the 2008 polls under the MMA flagship – are supposed to hold intra-party elections every six months; however, they have not held any since 2007.
The Pir Pagara-led Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, which, under its party manifesto, has to hold elections every three months, has also failed to do so since 2009.
According to the Political Parties Act 2002, a political party is bound to fulfill two conditions to be eligible for elections, including submitting to the ECP a consolidated statement of accounts audited by a chartered accountant 60 days before the close of each financial year.
The second requirement is to hold intra-party elections and submit its results to the ECP.
Though the provisions do not provide any verification mechanism to the ECP, the law serves just a cosmetic exercise.
Parties usually file asset details and before the announcement of the election schedule release a statement claiming that intra-party polls were held. The list of the ‘elected’ office bearers of the party is attached with the statement.
However, election authorities have no mechanism to check the authenticity of such statements. Similar is the case when it comes to filing annual statements of assets by elected legislators for the national parliament and the members of the provincial assemblies.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2013.
COMMENTS (6)
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it says in para.4 and 6 that pti have NOT held elections
PTI is doing it now. Genuine Intra-Party elections
If these so called democratic parties donot conduct intra party elections then why are they even allowed to contest the elections. If they cannot even fulfill the basic requirements of their own manifestos then they should be disqualified, period. This might be the best way to root out the corrupt elements who under the garb of democracy are looting this nation. Ban them all and save this country.
Which political parties have fulfilled the crucial requirement of holding intra-party elections? How many total parties do we have?
Are you gone nuts? PTI is doing it nowadays. I bet rest won't do it at all.
Only PTI is the one having genuine intra party elections and they should be encouraged rather than discouraging them and encouraging only those who believe in dictatorship within party and will hold cosmetic elections in the end. Cosmetic Intra party elections should be strictly checked by ECP and should not be allowed.