Important Links

Party Symbols

Code of Conduct for upcoming elections

Number of voters in upcoming elections

Political Participation of Youth in Pakistan

The Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002

Constitution of Pakistan

Party Positions
(1970-2002)

Mr. Jinnah's presidential address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan

August 11, 1947

I cordially thank you, with the utmost sincerity, for the honour you have conferred upon me  More

Civic Education Network has launched a country-wide campaign to check the use/abuse of money in Pakistani politics during Election-2008 considering Plutocracy as the Death of Democracy. Concerned citizens are encouraged to participate in this unique campaign to reform the country’s politics.  

Plutocracy is the Death of Democracy:

Money is as essential for the existence and functioning of political parties as milk is for the survival of a human child. However, lavish use of this resource strictly limits the common man’s sphere of participation. It is common practice for political parties to opt for candidates from a wealthy background who are able to bear the financial burden of running an expensive election campaign. As a result of this practice, only privileged segments of society are able to access the power structure. This may not have been a problem, but unhealthy lust for the acquisition of powerful positions and the usage of these democratic positions for personal, financial and social gains has taken precedence over democratic values of the political system and consequently tarnished democracy.    

The employment of unauthorized finance by political parties has lead to popular distrust in political parties and poor participation in political movements. After all, why would a common man believe that a politician will take care of his/her needs and rights when the politician has attained his/her position through personal spending. It is commonly believed (and is most often true) that the priority of elected politicians is to re-attain the financial resources they have spent during the campaign period, often through illegal means, because elected representatives are insufficiently remunerated by the government. The prevalent culture of corruption is trouncing the nation’s non-privileged segments and their hope of a better life through the virtues of democracy  

The ragged condition of democracy has inspired the Center for Civic Education Pakistan to initiate a discussion to stop indulgent money spending in politics to strengthen the political system and restore the general public’s trust in it. After all, politics is crucial to the existence and survival of any nation state, and only a transparent funding system for politics can lead the nation to success. Hence, the Center has started its national campaign for the General Elections 2008 under the title of “Clean Money = Clean Politics”. The slogan of the nation wide campaign is “Politics of Money is the Death of Democracy” 

Presently the election laws only deal with and limit individual expenses during election campaigns. As an institution, political parties and central/provincial leaders can spend unlimited amounts of financial resources for the promotion of their party campaign. Due to this, during election campaigns, political parties pay hefty amounts to advertise themselves in newspapers, radio stations, television channels, posters, bill boards and any other available medium..  

With the understanding that it is of utmost importance to check the use and abuse of money to clean the politics of Pakistan, the Center for Civic Education requests the Election Commission of Pakistan to urgently design a plan to limit political party expenditure and evolve an effective mechanism to monitor the influence of money. 

Meanwhile, every citizen of Pakistan is strongly encouraged to monitor the expenditures of contestants in their respective constituencies. It is important to bear in mind that after the conclusion of electioneering, financial documents submitted by the contesting candidates are open for verification and legal action can be taken in case any irregularities are uncovered. Although legal action has never been undertaken in this regard in Pakistan, your participation in the “clean resources = clean money” campaign can open new doors in reforms of political funding  

Electoral Expenses: What Does the Law State? 

1. Contestants are legally bound to submit details of their campaign expenditures after the elections. According to the People’s Representation Act 1976 electoral expenses include the expenses that are incurred in the election campaign, beginning with the submission of nomination papers and concluding the day after polling. It does not include the candidature fee of Rs. 4000 for National Assembly and Rs. 2000 for provincial assembly.
2. In the case that any person incurs election expenses on behalf of a candidate, whether it is for stationery, postage, telegrams, advertisement, transport or any other item, these expenses shall be deemed election expenses incurred by the candidate himself/herself.
3. As per law, candidates for the National Assembly can not spend more than 1.5 million for election expenses, whilst candidates for the Provincial Assembly cannot spend more than 1.0 million. Candidates have to keep a billing record in the form of receipts of any expenses that exceed Rs. 500.
4. As per law, the Returning Officer has to keep a record of electoral expenses of candidates for one year that can be requested (in original or photocopied form) at any time for inspection.
5. The People’s Representation Act prohibits the candidates from providing transport facility to any voter except the family of the candidate.
6. The People’s Representation Act prohibits the selling and buying of votes.

The Code of Conduct for Election 2008 States:  

§         The concerned political parties and contesting candidates may announce their overall development program, but after the announcement of the election schedule till the day of polling, no candidate or any person on his/her behalf shall, openly or in secret, give any subscription or donation, or make a promise for giving such subscription or donation, to any institution in their respective constituency or to any other institution, nor shall they commit to undertake any development project in the respective constituency.

§         All contesting candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are “corrupt practices” and offences under the election laws such as the bribing of voters, intimidation and impersonation of voters, canvassing within 400 yards of a polling station, holding public meetings during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the poll by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

§         Issue of advertisements at the cost of public exchequer in the newspapers and other media and the misuse of official mass media during the election.

§         Ministers shall not coalesce their official visits with election campaigns.

§         Political parties and contesting candidates shall not procure the support or assistance of any civil servant to promote or hinder the election of a candidate.

§      The People’s Representation Act prohibits the candidate from hanging an electoral hoarding, banner or poster that is more than the size mentioned in the Code of the Conduct. Wall chalking is also prohibited by the Code. 

 §      In accordance with the People’s Representation Act-1976, the local authority and the Returning Officer are responsible for the effective implementation of these provisions.