Legal provision: ECP suspends 336 lawmakers

Membership suspended after they failed to file their annual asset declarations for previous financial year

ISLAMABAD: The ECP has temporarily suspended the membership of 336 lawmakers after they failed to file their annual asset declarations for the previous financial year.

The ECP notified the names of 22 senators, 66 members of the National Assembly, 137 members of Punjab Assembly, 49 each of Sindh and K-P assemblies  and 13 members of the Balochistan Assembly who had so far not filed their declarations.

Prominent among those whose membership was suspended included Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah, cabinet members Sara Afzal Tarar, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Mir Ameenul Hasnaat and Abid Sher Ali.

Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodul Rasheed is among 137 Punjab Assembly members.

Under the relevant law, all members of parliament and provincial assemblies are required to submit details of their assets and liabilities. If they fail to do so, the ECP can suspend their membership till they comply with the legal provision.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2016.