KARACHI: I want to draw the attention of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to an issue related to the collection of hides and party funds of various political and religio-political parties and the way they are then used. The ECP has set a limit on the amount that a candidate can spend on election campaigns but it seems that it still needs to put further restrictions on political parties in order to conduct free and fair elections.
Almost all political parties have collected hides and funds from the public and also generate funds from their sister welfare organisations every year. It would be better if these political parties work for the welfare of the people through their political activities directly, rather than establishing their own welfare organisations. If they genuinely want to work for the well-being of the people, specifically for the poorer sections of society, then their political activities have to show their determination towards this cause. But we have seen nothing from them in the political arena. They only seem to be interested in gaining political support and public sympathy through their welfare work.
It is now the duty of the ECP to investigate whether so-called welfare activities of political parties are genuine endeavours carried out for the benefit of the people or just another means of indirectly spending on election campaigns and influencing election results through buying voters under the guise of welfare organisations.
Firstly, the ECP has to keep an eye on the funds that the parties generate for welfare work and how they are spent. Secondly, the ECP also needs to centralise all the welfare work being carried out by political parties and establish a joint welfare organisation with the coordination of all stakeholders under the supervision of the Chief Election Commissioner.
SM Shuja Haider
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2012.
