Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid’s MNA Riaz Fatyana moved a private member bill in the National Assembly on Tuesday, to amend the Political Parties Order 2002, seeking financial facilitation for parties that are not well off financially.
As the Law Minister Farooq H Naek did not oppose the bill, Deputy Speaker
Faisal Karim Kundi referred the bill to the Standing Committee concerned.
However, the Law Minister said that this bill needs a policy decision. It also needs deliberation as it is of concern to stakeholders like the Election Commission, political parties and the Law Commission.
Explaining the bill, Riaz informed the House that the crux of the bill is that the federal government would provide finances to political parties as per their strength in the parliament.
He said that the financially weaker political parties could not fully contest elections therefore the bill would ensure that they also get finances to facilitate their candidates in the general elections.
Riaz said, “Dictators have ruled for half of our country’s history because political parties were weaker administratively and financially. Providing them finances by the federation will strengthen political parties as well as democracy.”
He said that with the funding provided to political parties, they would be able to set up secretariats, re-organize their ranks, and create think-tanks to enhance the capacity of their office bearers and workers.
In support of his bill, Riaz gave the examples of Ecuador, Costa Rica and Germany where the federation provides such funding for political parties.
