45 MNAs told to clarify asset discrepancies

ECP issued show-cause notices to the lawmakers

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued show-cause notices to 45 members of the National Assembly for not clearing discrepancies in their asset statements.

According to ECP sources, these members of the lower house of parliament include federal ministers Fawad Chaudhry, Fehmida Mirza and Shireen Mazari.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father Asif Ali Zardari are also among them.

The other MNAs who have been served notices include Noor Alam Khan, Amir Kiyani, Khurram Dastagir, Maiza Hameed and Mehnaz Akbar Aziz.

Earlier, the ECP had asked the parliamentarians to clear the discrepancies found in their asset details.

This is for the first time that the commission has investigated into the asset statements filed by the lawmakers.

The ECP has asked the 45 MNAs to respond to the show-cause notices within 14 days after which it would direct them to appear before the commission in person.

On Wednesday, the commission issued statement reminded the members of the lower and upper houses of parliament and provincial assemblies to submit their yearly statements of assets and liabilities on or before December 31 this year.

It also asked the lawmakers to submit the details of assets and liabilities of their spouses and dependent children.

It is a mandatory requirement under Section 137 of Elections Act 2017, under which members of the Senate, the National Assembly and provincial assemblies are required to submit the statements of their assets and liabilities to the election commission’s secretariat including those of their spouses and dependent children.

In January this year, the ECP had suspended the membership of 332 parliamentarians for failing to submit their asset details.