ECP seeks parties’ statement of account
Election Commission of Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The country’s polls authority has asked political parties to file their consolidated statement of account for the financial year 2022-23—that ended on June 30 this year—latest by August 29.
“The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reminds all heads of political parties in terms of section 210 of the Election Act, 2017 read with section 204 and rule 159 & 160 of the Election Rules that they are required to file…their consolidated statement of account,” read a statement issued on Tuesday.
Section 210 of the Election Act, 2017 provides that a political party shall, in such a manner as may be prescribed, submit to the ECP within 60 days from the close of a financial year a consolidated statement of its account.
This account audited by a chartered accountant on Farm-D shall contain the party’s annual income and expenses, sources of its funds and assets and liabilities.
The statement submitted to the ECP shall accompany the report of a chartered accountant with regard to audit of accounts of the party and a certificate signed by an officer-bearer authorized by the party head.
The report will state that the party has not received any funds from any prohibited source under the Election Act, 2017; that the statement of account contains an accurate picture of the financial position of the party and that the information given is correct.
It said the printed forms are available free of cost at the ECP secretariat in Islamabad as well as the offices of provincial election commissioners in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. “Form-D/Proforma of the source of funds are available on the ECP website.”
It said Form-D shall also accompany a legible copy of each of the bank statements of the party for the period from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 along with a bank reconciliation statement.
“The subject statement shall be addressed to the ECP secretary [in Islamabad] and delivered through an office-bearer of the party duly authorized by the party head. Statements received through post, fax, courier services or any other mode shall not be accepted,” it added.