Political parties dodge customary checks

Seventy per cent of political parties have yet to submit their account schedules.

MULTAN: In spite of the Election Commission’s instructions, 70 per cent of political parties have yet to submit their account schedules.

Several candidates have stated that party representatives have disobeyed the law but the election commission has remained silent over the issue. According to the Political Parties Order 2002 Section-13, it is mandatory for all registered political parties to submit their schedules with the election commission so that the body can verify that no political party has acquired money through illegal means and a chartered accountant is consulted to audit the activities of the political parties.

“Most of the parties have not even submitted their schedules which raises suspicion over their records and activities. However, the matter is not being pursued by the EC,” said a political campaigner, who wished to remain anonymous.

Only 48 of 148 registered political parties have submitted their complete schedules with the EC for audits. According to political parties order 2002 Section-14 those parties which fail to submit their schedules will not be allotted election insignia and could also be disqualified from participating but so far representatives of the Election Commission have failed to comment on the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2010.