Leaders of various political parties have called for enacting a law regarding funding of the political parties, saying there is no system of public funding of political parties present in Pakistan. They expressed these views on the launching ceremony of the report Political Parties in Pakistan: Organisation & Power Structure, organised by the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and The Asia Foundation.
They also said that those who give donations to the party expect benefits and advantages in return from the political parties. In many cases they demand tickets in return of their donations.
They were of the view that trend of winning elections by giving tickets to the elect-able should be changed adding that political parties should try to get votes on their ideology and manifesto instead of trying to win election with the support of big clans and biradrees. Speaking on the occasion former speaker of the National Assembly Syed Fakhar Imam said that unfortunately in our country democracy was not given time to flourish in Pakistan and democratic governments in the past were toppled.
He raised the question that is this parliament is working independently where two in camera sessions were held in which the law enforcement agencies briefed the parliamentarians on the law and order situation of the country and nothing was reported in the press about the in camera briefing. He also said that only unanimous resolutions were passed after these sessions. Fakhar said that there is no connection between the parliament and people. He also said that for the last 65 years we don't have viable economy and our country is passing through hard times.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Secretary General PML (N ) Ahsan Iqbal said that if his party will come in to power they will constitute a National Democratic Commission, which will gave its proposals for the funding of the political parties.
He said that there should be state funding of the political parties for the political development and should have strong audit system of this funding. While commenting on the present political scenario Ahsan said that weather is not good but climate is improving. He said that despite corruption in PIA, Steel Mills and Railways the political government had passed 18th, 19th and 20th amendment with the consensus of all religious and political parties.
Moreover political parties shows maturity and learn from the experience of their past of destabilising each other governments. He said now the political trends are changing in our country, we have vibrant media and independent judiciary and our middle class is starting taking interest in politics. He said that some people are criticising judiciary for judicial activism but it is a fact that for the first time in the history of Pakistan judiciary had taken decisions on important issues like missing persons and many persons were recovered.
Speaking on the occasion, leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Raza Haroon said that local government system is the mother of democracy and for the past three years we are unable to contest local government elections adding that those who are opposing the local government system did not want the empowerment of people at grass root level. He said that feudalism is the root cause of all the evils in this country and without eliminating this menace progress of Pakistan is not possible. He said that we should follow the guidelines of Quaid-e-Azam for progress, which he had enshrined for the future of the state of Pakistan in its speech in the constituent assembly.
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