MANIFESTO WATCH:

Centre for Civic Education Pakistan has conducted a comparative analysis of the manifestos of six major political parties participating in Election-2008. The aim of this study is to offer voters’ a chance to understand parties’ positions on issues of vital concern. We hope this effort will help voter’s make an informed choice in the polling booth on January 8, 2008.

Introduction

The manifesto of a political party is an articulation of its principles and intentions on a host of domestic and foreign issues that will be implemented practically in case of electoral victory.Manifestos of political parties should be critically observed both by the parties’ proponents and opponents in democratic societies. However, in Pakistan, manifestos are rarely discussed or debated. Manifestos are generally produced by the political parties during the period of electioneering. Therefore, very little time is offered to the electorates and the media to dissect and decipher them through any sort of deliberative process. Amazingly in a country where literacy is pathetically low, most of these manifestos have been authored in English.

The manifesto of Jamiat-Ulema-Islam-Fazalur Rehman is permanent until it is amended by the Manifesto Committee of the party. As a modest contribution to the ongoing election campaign, the Centre for Civic Education Pakistan has attempted to provide an overview of the manifestos of the nation’s six major political parties participating in Election-2008 to allow readers to make comparisons and an informed choice on the polling booth. The vision of these parties on issues of citizen’s concern is narrated in table format. A critical analysis of these manifestos reveals that certain crucial issues being confronted by the nation do not figure in detail. Similarly Kashmir and religion, by and large, have taken a back seat at least in the manifestos. Interestingly the article 58 (2) b (that empowers the President to dissolve the National Assembly) does not figure in the manifestos.

WAR ON TERROR 

Two major parties namely; Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have recognized the existence of extremism and terrorism in Pakistan. These parties have expressed concern over increasing terrorism in Pakistan and share a similar viewpoint stating that extremism and intolerance are offshoots of long military rule in Pakistan. Both parties also recognize that religious intolerance has tarnished the image of the country. Although the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-i-Azam (PML-Q) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) are publicly allied to the “Enlightened Moderation” cherished by President, Pervaiz Musharraf, but has opted to ignore this vital issue.

Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) 

FATA appears to be the most critical hotspot in the context of rising extremism and Pakistan’s role in the global war against terrorism. The manifestos of MQM suggests merging FATA with mainstream administration. The PML-N manifesto has promised to bring FATA into mainstream political, cultural and economic life. The PML-Q manifesto offers the introduction of a party based democratic political culture. The PPP manifesto has stated that laws of Pakistan including the Political Parties Act will be extended to FATA and will make it a tax-free zone. The PPP has also proposed to merge FATA with NWFP. The ANP manifesto has shown concern towards the underprivileged and underdeveloped status of the area and has promised to take steps to merge it with Pukhtunkhwa.

MADRESSAH REFORMS 

The PPP in its manifesto has addressed the issue of Madrassah (religious seminaries) Reforms and believes that educational extremism represents the greatest danger to Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of Pakistan. They purport that many of the Madressahs are not schools but recruitment centers for the militants which require reform. The PPP has promised to build ‘Apna Ghar’ (Our Home) which are free boarding schools for disadvantaged children. The JUI-F manifesto states that madressahs should be given more autonomy and their degrees should be made equivalent to other educational degrees. The MQM manifesto states that more incentives will be given to madressahs to bring their syllabi in line with mainstream education. The PML-Q manifesto promises to modernize the madressahs and their curriculum. The PML-N manifesto remains silent on this issue.  

THE JUDICIAL CRISIS 

The manifesto of JUI-F is of permanent nature and was last time amended on 14^th of December 2005, hence it does not address the prevailing judicial crisis. However, the system of judiciary envisaged in the manifesto will be in line with the conjunctions of Quran and Sunnah. The ANP manifesto has expressed that the judiciary will be separated from executive where ever necessitated with financial autonomy. The MQM also shares the same views and have also stated to abolish parallel judicial systems and bring effective jail reforms. The PML-Q has not touched this issue. The PPP manifesto has shown its commitment to independent judiciary free of political manipulation. It has also discussed jail reforms. None of these parties have commented on the prevailing judicial crisis except the PML-N which has discussed the crisis in the foreword of the manifesto and have vowed to go all out for the restoration of pre-November 3, 2007 judiciary.     

CIVIL MILITARY RELATIONSHIP 

The role of the military is clearly defined in the Constitution of 1973 but for some reason this institution stretches its jurisdiction to decide the political course of the nation in addition to defending the national borders. It is time to review the civil military relationship in order to create a better environment for democratic governance based on will of the people. Hence it is imperative that all political parties believe in the supremacy of the Constitution and the Parliament. The ANP manifesto has stated that the interference of armed forces and civil bureaucracy in politics will be squashed through legislative and administrative measures. The ANP also intends to review the defense budget and utilize the services of trained personnel of the forces like doctors, teachers etc for the benefit of public at large on non-profit basis. The PPP manifesto promises to abide by the Charter of Democracy, abolish the National Security Council, make all security agencies answerable to the elected Prime Minister, and to put the Defense budget under the scrutiny of the Parliament. The PPP has also highlighted that the curriculum in defense institutes was prepared to train officer cadre that could uphold the forces of military rule and has suggested revising it to ensure respect for democracy, democratic institutions and elected officials. The PML-N manifesto states that repeated military interventions are a serious threat to the Federation. The party has promised to abolish National Security Council and bring the Defence Defense budget within the preview of the National Assembly. The PML-Q, JUI-F and MQM have not touched the issue in their manifestos.  

NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION 

In its manifesto, PML-N states that the issue of nuclear proliferation hangs like an albatross around the neck of the nation but has not explained how it will tackle this issue. The PML-Q manifesto states that it will not accept double standards and will not allow intrusion into its nuclear program or provide access to its nuclear scientists.  

PROVINCIAL AUTONOMY AND DEVOLUTION 

The PML-N manifesto has presented a policy of Good Governance and is of the view that devolution of power during the non-democratic regime led to corruption and shifted power away from provinces to bolster military rule. To redeem this situation, the party intends to set up a high level commission. The PPP has categorically mentioned that it will abolish the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution. The party has also incorporated 36 points of the Charter of Democracy in its manifesto. The PML-Q manifesto has picked up the issue in grand narrative only. The MQM manifesto has reiterated that that it wants provincial autonomy through national dialogue and consensus amongst the federating units. The PPP and PML-N have also promised to hold party-based Local Government elections in future. 

ENERGY CRISIS 

Pakistan is facing a serious energy crisis. The mechanism of demand and supply shows that our demand for energy sources is far above our generation capacity. The PPP manifesto has appreciated and analyzed the crisis and has presented a program for generation and management of power needs. The PML-N has also taken the energy crises in to consideration in its manifesto in the context of industrial development. The Awami National Party (ANP) has categorically stated that power generation will be made a provincial subject. The PML-Q does not present any solution to this issue in its manifesto. The manifestos of the MQM and JUI-F have no substantial take on this issue. It is surprising to see that that no political party has mentioned the issue of artificially capped crisis of petroleum prices, that would have to be tackled by the next government as it is being postponed by the caretaker government.  

WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 

There is consensus in all segments of society that water is scarce and water resource management is essential for the future prosperity and sustainability of Pakistan. We have witnessed controversies between national and regional political parties in the past regarding this issue. The manifestos of all four parties speak for the need to build dams and water reservoirs through consultation and consensus but none have mentioned Kalabagh Dam specifically. The manifesto of PML-Q, the foremost champion of the cause ignores the issue.     

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION 

The manifestos of all the political parties have expressed their concern for freedom of expression. All believe that electronic and print media should be free. The PPP manifesto promises to establish a Press Complaints Commission and the party will allow political parties to run FM radio stations. The PML-N and the PPP have promised to further improve Freedom of Information law. The PML-Q has restricted itself to a quotation of the father of the nation in favor of the press in preamble to its manifesto. The MQM manifesto talks about an independent Regulatory Authority for media. The JUI-F manifesto has stated that the press and electronic media will be free and all such resources will be utilized to promote Islam and Pakistan.  

view the sector-wise comparative analysis of the manifestos of five major political parties