KARACHI: “I will speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” This is exactly what is expected of every honourable person.
However, candidates running in the general elections have no qualms about hiding their expenses from the authorities as well as the media. Their standard reply to journalists’ queries is that “well-wishers, friends and contributors” are footing the bill.
Consequently, it was very difficult to get an honest reply from any of the candidates. While there were those who said that the cost was being borne by the party, others were those who simply said that most of the funds were being raised by contributors, friends and well-wishers.
In short there was not a single candidate who divulged what cost was being incurred on their election campaign despite the fact that the city is carpeted with posters, banners, billboards and hoardings. Even high tension electric poles have not been spared.
One could say that every material, space, time or every move made or used for running ongoing election campaign involves big money and that no ordinary citizen could even imagine of. However, what is being seen around the city by a naked eye it could be easily stated that billions of rupees are being spent on election campaign that may be of a party as a whole or by individual national or provincial assembly candidates.
No candidate, independent or belonging to a party could deny the fact that cost incurred on campaign by using billboards, hoardings, posters and banners could be easily calculated by collecting relevant data. Similarly, time taken on TV channels for organising different promotional programmes as well as ads could also reveal expenditures.
The most frightening aspect of the astronomical amounts being squandered by individuals and parties is that all of them would set about recovering the money by hook or by crook after entering the corridors of power.
Mohtarma Khushbakht Shujaat, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) a candidate for NA250 is making her debut in national politics. She faces two powerful candidates one from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Dr Ikhtiar Baig, a leading industrialist; and independent candidate Capt Haleem Siddiqui, also a businessman who owns a container terminal at Karachi port.
The Muttahida has fielded two provincial assembly candidates Askari Taqi from PS 113 and Muqim Alam from PS 112. Against this PPP and Pakistan Muslim League (N) has a joint candidate Saleem Zia for PS 113 and PPP has fielded Najmi Alam for PS 112.
Talking to Dawn, Ms Shujaat said that MQM’s election campaign differs from other parties as the party fully bears the cost required for mobilisation of voters and fixing of billboards, banners, flags and hoardings. She said it was MQM’s sector in-charge, who with the assistance of the unit in-charge, helps their candidate to interact with voters of the constituency. “Daily time table is chalked out by them and I have just to move with them to meet people and voters,” she added.
She said that MQM fields its candidates on the basis of their performance and added that she had served the people of Pakistan for last 30 to 35 years. So much so Ms Shujaat said that when she paid Rs800 for two NA seats including one for reserved seat for women the Muttahida paid me back. “The entire election campaign is being run and funded by the party and not by her,” she added.
Barring a partly amount of entertainment being spent by her for visitors to election office in her residence, she said no other cost is being incurred by her or her husband Shujaat Ali Beg, who is Caretaker Education Minister of Sindh.
That is why, she said, that people living in 120-yard houses could also now contest elections with full support of MQM.
Capt Haleem Siddiqui said it is an uphill task for an independent candidate to contest elections, but the biggest saving is made by not making payment for purchasing a party ticket. He denied that his election campaign spending has violated the officially fixed amount of Rs1.5 million. On the contrary, he said his banners and poster as in least number compared to his opponents.
In reply to a question, he said, that most of the banners, posters, huge panaflex pictures erected on billboards have been given by his well-wishers, contributors and friends. However, he said, some spending has been made by himself particularly on entertainment at his camp office.
He said in the past he twice won from NA250, first in 1993 and then in 1997. What matters in this constituency, which comprises posh localities like Clifton and Defence Housing Society, is the credibility and performance of a candidate. Even katchi abadies mostly looked after by Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) have a lot of awareness.
Similar views were expressed by PPP candidate Dr Ikhtiar Beg, who denied he had spent huge funds on his election campaign. He said that most of the posters, huge and expensive billboards and party flags had been erected by well-wishers, friends and contributors.
He disclosed that modern Information Technology tools were also being used for reaching voters. Provincial assembly candidates for PS 112 and PS 113 out-rightly denied that they had made huge spending beyond official limit of Rs1million on their election campaign.
KARACHI: “I will speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” This is exactly what is expected of every honourable person.
