Lhc Issues Notices: Disclose assets and tax returns

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued notices to the attorney general and the Election Commission of Pakistan on a petition seeking disclosure of assets and submission of income tax returns by candidates in the general elections. The petitioner, Ilyas Majeed Sheikh, submitted that the ECP was responsible for holding free and fair elections and scrutiny of nomination papers. He said out of 104 Senators, only 38 had filed income tax returns and out of 446 members of the National Assembly and Senate, 300 were tax evaders. He claimed 88 parliamentarians did not have national tax numbers. Majeed prayed that a high level commission be constituted and election candidates should make their assets and tax returns public. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah issued notices to respondents for the next week.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2013.