POLITICAL parties have a habit of almost always making the elections conducted by the Election Commission of Pakistan controversial. It is mind-boggling that both — the winner and the losers — accuse each other of resorting to unfair means to win the elections.

In reality every candidate violates the ground rules prescribed by the ECP. It is common knowledge that every contestant spends way more than the set limit. The election rules not only set limits on expenses but also prohibit candidates from providing transport or food to voters on the polling day as this is tantamount to luring people to vote for them.

In this scenario I am wondering if election contestants are not allowed to provide food or transport to win votes, then how justified is the reception by the prime minister for parliamentarians and the doling out of funds to ensure votes for the government bill in the National Assembly?

It is time the rulers and the voters followed rules. While the politicians declared all their assets in a transparent manner. Trading barbs and bending the rules is not going to get this nation anywhere.

Raja Shafaatullah

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2017