parties for this only with the support and assistance of a political party or a combination of such parties that a Presidential candidate can be capable of successfully running his candidature. The same, however, is not true in the case of a candidate for membership of an Assembly in as much as a constituency for Assembly being comparatively small in size and compact in area, it is possible for such candidate to project his candidature before the small electorate by organising and addressing much meetings at places within the constituency and also by issuing manifestos, pamphlets, booklets, and brochures, etc. But the support and assistance of political party for a Presidential candidate is indispensable in the existing conditions of the country...............
However regretful it may be the fact remains that none of the existing political parties has yet become fully organized and attained the national stature with roots among the masses. With the imposition of Martial Law in 1958, all political parties were banned. It is only by the enactment of the very recent political Parties Act that the revival of the hitherto banned political parties has been permitted. Besides, sanction for the formation of new political parties within the ambit of that Act, has been given. In spite of the opportunity available under said Act, certain political leaders have declared that they would not revive their parties until the present Constitution has been further democratized. True, the all-Pakistan Muslim League which had once a large following in both the Wings of the country has since been revived, but it is split up into two groups with different out-look. The blocked funds of the parents. Muslim League have not been given to either group. None of these two groups appears to have contacted the masses as yet for enrolment of members on the basis of any programme. One or two other old political parties have also been revived but they could not as the number of their representatives in the former legislatures indicates, attain the stature of a national political party, and it is to be seen how far they will be able to attain that stature in future. In order to achieve country-wide popularity and importance thereby to wing the support of the people in favor of the candidate sponsored by a political party, what is essential is to get itself rooted first in the hearts of the people by constant mass contact and sustained work on the basis of a good programme. The revived political parties are now only in their formative stage, and it may lake some time before they become firmly established will adequate funds. Since their revival, no election or bye-election to any representative institution has been fought on the party system. The strength and stature of these parties will crystallize only after the next Presidential election and the general election for Assemblies. Until a political party has fought at least one Presidential election and one general election, it cannot be taken for certain that it has become we 11-organised on a national basis with roots among the masses. Since a political party of that stature is yet to come into existence and the media of publicity and transport facilities in the country are inadequate. Presidential candidates at the next election may find it difficult to project their candidatures before the adult population of about 41 crores scattered all over the country. In consideration of these practical difficulties alone, the next Presidential election may, as an interim measure, be held indirectly through an electoral college, but all successive Presidential election thereafter should be held direct on the basis of universal adult franchise...............
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