ISLAMABAD: Despite Pakistan’s growing digital footprint and the rising role of technology in politics worldwide, a recent report by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) exposes a startling digital divide within the country’s political landscape. According to FAFEN’s comprehensive study, “Assessing Web Presence of Political Parties in Pakistan,” only 35 percent — that is, 58 out of 166 registered political parties — currently maintain fully or partially functional websites.
This digital shortfall extends even to mainstream politics. Among the 20 parties with parliamentary representation in the Federal Parliament and provincial assemblies, only 14 parties (70 percent) have operational websites. This is a critical gap in transparency and voter engagement, especially considering that Pakistan’s Elections Act, 2017 explicitly mandates political parties to publish updated lists of their office bearers and executive committee members on their official websites under Section 208(4).
Digital Transparency Falls Short of Legal Requirements
The FAFEN report reveals that while many parties maintain active social media accounts, these platforms cannot replace the official and legally required websites. Social media’s fleeting, algorithm-driven nature makes it unsuitable for hosting accessible, structured, and permanent information required under electoral law.
Among parties with websites, compliance is far from complete. Only 40 parties (69%) meet the minimum legal requirement by publishing the list of their central office bearers, while a mere six parties (10%) disclose their executive committee members’ names. Financial transparency fares worse: just one party made its consolidated financial statement publicly available, a significant shortfall given the legal obligation to submit such documents annually to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Parliamentary Parties Lead, But Gaps Persist
FAFEN’s analysis also highlights disparities in content richness and compliance across parties. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) tops the list, providing 18 out of 30 types of information evaluated in the study. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), despite its website being blocked in Pakistan and accessible only via VPN, scored 15 points, followed by the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) with 12, and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) with 11.
Yet, even among these leading parties, critical information such as election manifestos, party constitutions, and financial disclosures remain patchy. Only 38 percent of all parties with websites posted their constitutions, and just 12 percent uploaded their latest electoral manifesto referencing the 2024 general elections. Information on candidate selection procedures, tenure of office bearers, and asset declarations — all required by the Elections Act — were virtually nonexistent on party sites.
What Pakistan’s Digital Deficit Means for Democracy
This digital deficit represents more than just a technological lag; it underscores systemic challenges in political transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement. In an era where digital communication is crucial for informed voting and political participation, the lack of accessible, official information limits voters’ ability to make educated choices.
Moreover, the failure to comply with legally mandated disclosure requirements erodes public trust and hinders the democratic process. With nearly two-thirds of political parties lacking functional websites, Pakistani voters and observers are left navigating a fragmented and opaque political information environment.
The Road Ahead: Calls for Digital Reform
FAFEN’s findings serve as a clarion call for electoral reforms and capacity-building within political parties to prioritize digital infrastructure and transparency. As Pakistan continues to integrate technology in governance and public engagement, political parties must embrace functional, content-rich websites not only as a compliance issue but as a vital tool for democracy.
For a democracy to thrive, voters deserve full access to accurate and updated information — on party leadership, policies, finances, and electoral processes — hosted on official platforms built to last beyond the fleeting nature of social media.
