![suspension 222 lawmakers penalised for withholding asset records suspension 222 lawmakers penalised for withholding asset records](https://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/278872-MakhdoomAminFahim-1319260067.jpg)
The suspended lawmakers represent all provincial assemblies, the National Assembly and the Senate. Among them, there are at least nine federal ministers, including Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Finance Minister Abdul Hafiz Shaikh, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Minister Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain, Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Sardar Bahadur Khan Sehar and Sheikh Waqas Akram.
A total of 103 members from the National Assembly, 49 from the Punjab Assembly, 28 from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, 23 from Sindh, six from the Balochistan Assembly and 13 senators are in the list. Some of the parliamentarians are also provincial ministers.
The term ‘suspension’ is not properly defined in the Peoples Representation Act (PRA) 1976 and Senate Elections Act (SEA) 1975 under which the action has been taken against the defiant members.
The ECP has sent the names of the members to the speakers of the respective assemblies and the Senate chairman. The last date for submitting asset details was around 20 days ago.
According to the law, the suspended parliamentarians cannot take part in the proceedings of their respective legislatures. However, the ministers can continue working in their ministries and as soon as the lawmakers file the details of their assets, the ECP will restore their membership.
Under clause 42 A of PRA 1976 and clause 25 A of the SEA 1975 which were inserted in 2002, every member of the provincial and national legislature has to file the details of assets of his own and his dependents by September 30th every year. The commission under this law is bound to notify the names of those who do not submit these details by October 15, barring them from taking part in the proceedings of their respective houses.
The ECP was supposed to issue the suspension notification against the parliamentarians on October 15, but instead wrote to the speakers of the assemblies to ask their members to submit their asset details immediately. By October 15, there were around 300 members who had not filed those details. However, some of them managed to file the same last week.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2011.
COMMENTS (13)
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As a technical matter their Appointments as Ministers should also stand suspended till they are reinstated as members.
my friends if you do not want to see it happen again vote for imran khan and pti in the next general election.
the express should mention all the names that r susended.and the people of pakistan should remember their names n pleaze dont vote them in next election.these all r sick and r not able to sit in parliment.
I think this is wonderful -- even if they eventually find a way out.
These people are really shameless. They should be barred from entering the premises since they have been suspended.
With few exceptions, people go in to the politics to make money.
When a candidate is awarded a ticket to contest for MPA, MNA or for the Senate, he or she pay a heavy price to the concerned political party leader in the name of donation.
Once the candidate win the election and he or she is fortunate enough to sit on the treasury bench, he or she immediately start recovering the money to get back his or her initial investment.
Once the money is recovered then the second phase starts and that is to accumulate illegal wealth in the names of spouses, children, relatives and even personal servants.
How Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) expects that the legislators will file their Assets and Liabilities?
Legislators who are transparent file the returns on or before the given date but the corrupt will always avoid and try not to file his or her Assets and Liabilities Form.
If our Finance Minister does not file his statement of asset and liability which is a requirement of law, how does he expect the citizens to file their return of income and statements of assets and liabilities.
I wish they disclose their assets on TV too, and their source of income.
What does that mean? would this stop them from their duty? will they not be able to receive salary? If the answer to all the above questions is "NO" then.. its just a waste of time.
Good move. Those who enjoy authority should also be sincere about responsibilities and accountability. Such moves by institutions make the ordinary voter feel empowered. Set rules must certainly apply to all. If the authorities expect common man to be law-abiding then the common man should also seek the same from the law-makers. Critics may argue of activism and highhandedness but nobody can deny that the message that comes through is a welcome one. Nobody should have a free ride.
Eye wash!
great - ECP should be strong enough to take legal actions against anyone - but should not be biased to any party like Supreme court is pro PMLN its pitty :P
This drama is played every year. Nothing substantial comes out of it.