1. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: The first limits for election expenses were set in 1962 – Rs. 2000 for candidates for a National Assembly seat and Rs. 1000 for a Provincial Assembly seat.
  2. Political Finance in Pakistan is regulated by Disclosures, Limitations and Bans.
  3. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In 1962 there were stringent sanctions for politicians who did not submit the required expense reports – Rs. 500 fine and disqualification from being an elected member of the assembly for 4 years.
  4. FACT: Returning officers are the eyes and ears of the ECP. They are responsible for reporting irregularities and launching legal proceedings as and when required..
  5. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In 1962, 581 contraventions were reported against contestants for breaking political finance laws.
  6. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In the 1962 general elections, 380 candidates were prosecuted for delayed submissions of election expense reports.
  7. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In the 1962 general elections, 201 candidates were prosecuted for non submissions of election expense reports.
  8. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In the 1965 the limits for election expenses were increase to Rs. 15000 for National Assembly and Rs. 10000 for Provincial Assembly.
  9. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: After the 1965 elections, 105 cases were referred to the courts for failing to follow the campaign  finance requirements.
  10. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In 1965, 67 cases were convicted for not following the election finance law.
  11. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: The first ever general elections covered by the Legal Framework Order on the basis of adult’s right to vote were held in 1970-71.
  12. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: The National and Provincial Assemblies (Elections) Ordinance increased the election expense limits to Rs. 25000 and Rs. 15000 for the national and provincial assemblies respectively.
  13. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: The 1970 Elections Ordinance set the precedence of not taking action against candidates who do not file election expenses.
  14. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In 1976, spending limits were fixed at Rs. 40000 for a National Assembly seat and Rs. 25000 for a Provincial seat or a sum calculated at the rate of fifty paisa for each entry in the electoral roll for the constituency for election to that seat, whichever is greater.
  15. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In 1975, the spending limit for elections to a seat in the Senate was introduced at Rs. 5000.
  16. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: The 1985 general elections saw “never seen before” huge amounts of money spent on electoral campaigns.
  17. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In 1985, General Zia declared that no contesting candidate would need to submit election expense returns.
  18. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In 1988 and 1990 elections the limits on election expenses remained the same (Rs. 500,000 for National Assembly and Rs. 300,000 for Provincial Assembly).
  19. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In 1993 the election expense limits were raised to Rs. 1,000,000 for National Assembly and Rs. 600,000 for Provincial Assembly.
  20. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: In 2002, the election expense ceilings were revised to Rs. 1,500,000 for National Assembly and Rs. 1,000,000 for Provincial Assembly and remain the same to date.
  21. PAKISTAN ELECTORAL HISTORY: in 2002 the election expense limit for the Senate elections was set at Rs. 1,500,000 and remains the same to date.
  22. There are no limits on how much political parties can spend on elections, regardless of the number of candidates they nominate.
  23. All candidates running for elections must, at the time of nominations, submit proof of all their own, their spouses and their dependent’s assets and liabilities.