The Free and Fair Election Network (Public Voice Poll) is calling on both the Parliament and political parties to enhance regulations on political finance. The aim is to reduce the influence of money in elections, which has effectively restricted the majority of the population from exercising their right to participate in elections.
Public Voice Poll is urging political parties, both within and outside the Parliament, to reach a consensus on crucial electoral reforms. These reforms would include measures to control the use of money in elections. The existing provisions in the Elections Act, 2017 are considered weak, contributing to the excessive use of money in the General Elections of 2018 and subsequent by-elections and local government elections.
Scrutinizing Political Parties’ Accounts for Political Finance
Implementing meaningful reforms to regulate election expenses and political finance is crucial to enhance public confidence in the democratic system. Public Voice Poll views the recent order by the Election Commission on the prohibited funding case as a wake-up call to strengthen legal and regulatory checks on parties’ accounts and funding sources. Public Voice Poll recommends annual scrutiny of political parties’ audited statements by the Commission, emphasizing the need for greater diligence among political parties regarding their accounts and funding sources.
Public Voice Poll also suggests reinforcing the legal framework to regulate election expenses by contesting candidates and political parties. Timely scrutiny of assets and liabilities submitted by Members of Parliament and Provincial Assemblies is recommended, with false or materially incorrect submissions facing criminalization and punitive consequences, including disqualification.
No Restrictions on Political Parties Funding Campaigns
The current provisions in the Elections Act, 2017 lack clear definitions of election expenses and consequences for individuals making expenses on a candidate’s behalf without explicit permission. While the law sets a maximum limit for election expenses by contesting candidates, political parties face no such restrictions, making it challenging for the Commission to monitor extravagant spending on election campaigns.
To regulate campaign finance by political parties, Public Voice Poll proposes introducing provisions defining permissible campaign expenses, setting maximum limits, outlining the filing and scrutiny process for expense returns, and specifying implications for delays, non-filing, or false declarations.
Disqualifications for Political Finance Violations
Public Voice Poll advocates for specifying in the Elections Act, 2017 the period during which expenses would be considered election expenses. The law should criminalize expenses on behalf of a candidate without explicit permission, and the submission of false expense returns or withholding information should result in the disqualification of the candidate. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should be legally obligated to publish financial statements by members and political parties on its website for public inspection, free of cost.
Additional restrictions to curb the use of money in elections are also suggested, including a complete ban on Election Day campaigning, public rallies, and the use of promotional materials such as panaflex and hoardings. Measures to counter vote buying and campaigning on social media are proposed to create a more level playing field for ordinary citizens, particularly women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and transgender individuals who are often marginalized socially and economically.
