Where money regulates polls

Financial asset details of 81 political parties prove that money plays a substantial role in elections

The democracy based on any design or scheme of public representation is rapidly turning into business venture the world over and Pakistan is no exception to this rising trend. But there is a little difference. In developed countries there are laws, rules and regulations to keep check on the money that the candidates or political parties may channel to win over the electorate. But such is not the case in Pakistan where laws have failed to contain the money factor playing a role in the elections.

The financial assets details of 81 political parties released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday with regard to the 2018 elections, lend support to the argument that elections are always a source of income, either through foreign or local donations or through the sale of tickets, for the political groups. It also supports the view that money plays a substantial, if not decisive, role in elections. According to these details, the ruling PTI is the richest political party among its 80 other rivals. The PTI generated Rs6.5 million from overseas Pakistanis’ donations and tops the list with declared assets worth Rs376.6 million. Next in line is the PML-N with assets valued at over Rs253 million. Its total income in 2018 was over Rs125 million with sale of tickets worth Rs119 million forming a major component of it.

The PPP, third in line, has declared assets worth Rs167 million while earning Rs93.7 million from sale of party tickets. The ECP report also provides details about the assets, income and expenditure in respect of the PML-Q, MQM-Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI.

Any election regulated on the basis of money will always produce a leadership lacking in character and integrity. If the on-going cases being handled by NAB and the FIA are any indicator, the system has completely failed to weed out corrupt and inept leadership or rulers.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2019.

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