An Analysis of Discourse on the Issue of Corruption in the Political Parties’ Manifestos: A Case of General Elections 2013

Abstract

The aim of study is to analysis the content of main issues in political parties’ manifestos of General Election 2013. It examines the discourse of corruption in political parties’ manifestos and analysis of similarities and differences in political parties’ manifestos regarding corruption. The major political parties which discussed in research are Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML (N)), Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPPP), Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI), Muttahida Quomi Movement (MQM) and Jammiat Ullma e Islam (Fazal Ur Rehman) (JUI (F)). The paper has been used the content analysis technique to explore the political parties’ stance on corruption in their political manifestos. It employs the saliency theory to explain the corruption as an issue. There are three main categories on which the political parties’ manifestos have been examined. They are: Is there any inclusive significance given to corruption as an issue? Is corruption assumed in a list as a separate issue? How much importance is given to the corruption among other main issues?  Corruption is seemed to be a main challenge in Pakistan after analyzing the political manifestos of main political parties of Pakistan as they have exhibited a very strong stance on corruption. They have tried to highlight the corruption in their own specific way and have suggested every possible action against corruption and they also made some of the recommendations to solve issue.