Bill moved in NA for financial assistance of political parties
Bill will ensure financially weaker political parties get finances for contesting elections.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) MNA Riaz Fatyana on Tuesday moved a private member bill in the National Assembly to amend Political Parties Order 2002, seeking financial facilitation for the parties not well-off financially.
As Law Minister Farooq H Naek did not oppose the bill, Deputy SpeakerFaisal Karim Kundi referred the bill to the concerned standing committee.
Naek however said that the bill needed a policy decision as well as deliberation as it was concerned with stakeholders like the election commission, political parties and the law commission.
Fatyana enlightened the House with the crux of the bill which was such that the federal government provides finances to political parties as per their strength in the parliament.
He said that since financially weaker political parties cannot fully contest in elections, the bill would ensure that they too got finances to support their candidates in the general elections.
"In our country's history, half of the period dictators ruled the country because political parties were weaker administratively and financially,” said Fatyana.
“Finances provided by the federation will strengthen political parties as well as democracy,” he added.
Fatyana said that with the funding provided to political parties, they would be able to set up secretariats, re-organize their ranks, create think-tanks and enhance capacity of their office bearers and workers.
In support of his bill, Fatyana also mentioned Ecuador, Costa Rica and Germany where the federation provides such funding for political parties.
Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) MNA Riaz Fatyana on Tuesday moved a private member bill in the National Assembly to amend Political Parties Order 2002, seeking financial facilitation for the parties not well-off financially.
As Law Minister Farooq H Naek did not oppose the bill, Deputy SpeakerFaisal Karim Kundi referred the bill to the concerned standing committee.
Naek however said that the bill needed a policy decision as well as deliberation as it was concerned with stakeholders like the election commission, political parties and the law commission.
Fatyana enlightened the House with the crux of the bill which was such that the federal government provides finances to political parties as per their strength in the parliament.
He said that since financially weaker political parties cannot fully contest in elections, the bill would ensure that they too got finances to support their candidates in the general elections.
"In our country's history, half of the period dictators ruled the country because political parties were weaker administratively and financially,” said Fatyana.
“Finances provided by the federation will strengthen political parties as well as democracy,” he added.
Fatyana said that with the funding provided to political parties, they would be able to set up secretariats, re-organize their ranks, create think-tanks and enhance capacity of their office bearers and workers.
In support of his bill, Fatyana also mentioned Ecuador, Costa Rica and Germany where the federation provides such funding for political parties.