A step towards transparency or more manipulation?

While the amendments to election finance rules under the enacted law in August 2023 may contribute to reducing the disparity between the declared and the actual spending by national and provincial assemblies seat aspirants, it is unlikely to eliminate the gap entirely. The substantial increase in the campaign spending limits of candidates has bolstered the perception that engaging in electoral politics in Pakistan is predominantly an endeavour for the affluent. Among a series of hastily enacted legislations prior to the completion of its term, the former prime minister Shahbaz Sharif’s government passed amendments to the Election Act 2017. The modified Act, implemented on August 5, 2023, not only adjusted certain provisions but, in Article 132 under Chapter VIII of the Election Act, dealing with election expenses, also raised the ceiling on campaign spending for candidates in both tiers of legislative bodies. Contestants vying for a National Assembly seat now have an increased permissible limit of Rs10 million, representing a 150 per cent surge, while those running for a provincial assembly seat have a revised cap of Rs4m, reflecting a growth of approximately 34pc. The previous spending limits were Rs4m for the National Assembly and Rs3m for provincial assemblies.