Upcoming elections: Increase in campaign expenditures opposed
Awami Workers Party says proposal will favour moneyed candidates.
Awami Workers Party says proposal will favour moneyed candidates.
ISLAMABAD:
The Awami Workers Party (AWP) has opposed a proposal seeking increase in electioneering expenditures of contestants and demanded the implementation of Supreme Court’s directions in this regard.
“The electoral system in its present incarnation not only denies equal participation but in fact clearly favours those with money and control over social and political institutions,” AWP Senior Vice President Hasan Nasir said at a press conference on Tuesday.
According to the draft of the proposed amendments, election expenses will be enhanced from Rs1.5 million to Rs6 million for a National Assembly candidate and from Rs1 million to Rs4 million for a provincial assembly candidate. However, the draft does not specify how the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would verify the proposed limit has not been crossed.
It has also been proposed that every National Assembly candidate would have to deposit Rs50,000 as security, while a provincial assembly candidate would have to deposit Rs25,000. Currently, the required deposit stands at Rs4,000 and Rs2,000, respectively. The stipulation adds that this deposit will be forfeited if the candidate does not secure one fourth of the total number of votes cast in his/her constituency.
Referring to a petition filed by AWP in the Supreme Court over the issue and a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G Ebrahim, Nasir said, “The CEC told us that the ECP had not floated this proposal (of enhancing the expenditures).”
He said the court has directed the ECP to implement its nine-point set of instructions with regard to election reforms. The court has also sought a report from the ECP by January 15, in this regard.
“We want general elections as per schedule but we also want the implementation of electoral reforms that will make it possible for the real representatives of the people to come forward and participate in elections,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2013.
The Awami Workers Party (AWP) has opposed a proposal seeking increase in electioneering expenditures of contestants and demanded the implementation of Supreme Court’s directions in this regard.
“The electoral system in its present incarnation not only denies equal participation but in fact clearly favours those with money and control over social and political institutions,” AWP Senior Vice President Hasan Nasir said at a press conference on Tuesday.
According to the draft of the proposed amendments, election expenses will be enhanced from Rs1.5 million to Rs6 million for a National Assembly candidate and from Rs1 million to Rs4 million for a provincial assembly candidate. However, the draft does not specify how the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would verify the proposed limit has not been crossed.
It has also been proposed that every National Assembly candidate would have to deposit Rs50,000 as security, while a provincial assembly candidate would have to deposit Rs25,000. Currently, the required deposit stands at Rs4,000 and Rs2,000, respectively. The stipulation adds that this deposit will be forfeited if the candidate does not secure one fourth of the total number of votes cast in his/her constituency.
Referring to a petition filed by AWP in the Supreme Court over the issue and a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G Ebrahim, Nasir said, “The CEC told us that the ECP had not floated this proposal (of enhancing the expenditures).”
He said the court has directed the ECP to implement its nine-point set of instructions with regard to election reforms. The court has also sought a report from the ECP by January 15, in this regard.
“We want general elections as per schedule but we also want the implementation of electoral reforms that will make it possible for the real representatives of the people to come forward and participate in elections,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2013.