Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 1 Improving Transparency of Party / Candidate Income & Expenditure in Pakistan Ahmed Bilal Mehboob PILDAT: Regional Conference on the use of money in politics and effects on people’s representation, New Delhi, India December 15-16, 2015

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency Context  Elaborate Disclosures in electoral laws  Statement of Assets & Liabilities, Taxes paid in past 3 years with Nomination Papers.  Campaign spending accounts by candidates  Legislators to submit yearly statement of Assets & Liabilities  Political Parties to submit yearly audited statement of accounts  2

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency Context  There is a spending limit on election campaign by law  Rs. 1.5 M (US $ 14 K) for National & 1 M (US $ 8,500 K) for Provincial Assembly Election  Parliamentarians Tax Directory published  No Funding by state-owned & Private cos.  No State Funding of Political Parties  ECP is the oversight entity; PF Wing 3

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency Key Challenges  Weak Rule of Law – Weak respect for law  Laws do not provide for website disclosure  ‘Threat’ to rich legislators by disclosures  ‘Disclosures demonize politicians & strengthen military hand to take over’  ECP has no authority and Capacity  Disclosure Forms too technical  Parties transformation: movements to establishments 4

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency 5  Transparency has not improved Accountability or general conduct  Media role is critical in raising public awareness  Civil Society can analyse disclosures and issue easy-to-understand reports for media and public  PILDAT effort to analyse and publicise drew criticism but publicity Role of Civil Society & Media

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency  Cap Political parties campaign spending  Ban or limit Electronic Media ads  Make Disclosure templates more specific Example: Donors Details  Empower ECP to scrutinise disclosures  Strengthen political parties to support candidates of modest means  Strong conflict of interest safeguards 6

Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency  ECP should strengthen system of constituency monitors (Indian example)  Law and Mechanism to Control outgoing Government’s Influence in Elections; (Dev Funds, Advance Payment to TV Channels)  Focus must shift to Democratic governments alone to truly Democratic political also which will strengthen them and able to generate funds from a wider membership base 7