DefinePK

Abstract

This study critically examines the controversial role of political parties being part of the government and establishment and as opposition parties being the victim of government in safeguarding or threatening the electoral integrity in Pakistan. Pakistan had faced numerous challenges to democracy including constitutional drawbacks, constitutional breakdown, institutional weaknesses, corruption, electoral frauds leading to political instability. Introduction highlights the significance of electoral integrity in promoting public confidence in transparency during elections and strengthening democracy. This study investigates the various dynamics of politics in Pakistan and the role of political parties influencing electoral integrity and what policy measures can be taken to strengthen it? The study finds that political parties in Pakistan have the potential to safeguard electoral integrity but at times they became part of non-political forces for personal interests and ignored their role. Electoral rigging, role of state institutions, partisanship and internal structural problems of political parties undermined their functions. This is qualitative research based on primary and secondary data. Primary data covers official reports and documents of election commission of Pakistan, handouts and records related to electoral malpractices issued by government. Secondary data encompasses books, research articles of the experts’ work on electoral integrity in developed and developing countries, reports of independent observer commissions, think tanks and reform organizations. This study is significant as it has the potential to make policy makers, intelligentsia, civil organizations and the public at large understand the underlying challenges to electoral integrity and initiate reforms for strengthening it. This will also contribute to broader discourse on democratization and political stability in Pakistan.