Disservice to public

The legislation to enable parliamentarians to conceal their assets and liabilities from public declaration is uncivil, undemocratic and illegal. All public representatives are supposed to exhibit transparency in their monetary and moral conduct, and any effort to obstruct it is tantamount to culpable activity. The existing law too says the same, as all elected members "are required to submit a statement of their assets and liabilities — including those of their spouses and dependent children — to the Election Commission...", and likewise Section 138 of the Elections Act mandates the ECP to publish these declarations in the official gazette.

In a sordid twist to ground realities, the Elections Amendment Bill, 2026 was yesterday passed by the lower house, seeking "secrecy of parliamentarians' assets", amid opposition by the PTI. This is unbecoming of a fair public lifestyle, and is solely meant to hide the skeletons of corruption. The amendment, likely to sail through the Senate also on the premise of a brute majority, would be a negation of trust in public office and good governance.

The excuse cited in the bill is untenable. It says, "...unrestricted or excessive disclosure could potentially compromise the personal security and privacy of parliamentarians and their families." Thus, the concealment has been proposed for a "period not exceeding one year at a time, and subject to the condition that a complete and true statement of assets and liabilities shall be submitted confidentially to the electoral watchdog".

The suspension of as many as 159 lawmakers from different legislatures had propelled this initiative. Under any canons of decency, this bill is a crude attempt to solicit benefit for personal gains at the cost of public trust. Parliamentary norms in any civilised society do not allow such tailor-made exceptions, as all men in public life are supposed to pass the litmus test of being accountable.