There are over 425 legislators who have to comply with the stipulated election laws. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: On the last day for submitting details of assets and liabilities, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to grant him two more days for compliance, saying he could not submit his declaration on account of his overseas tour.
“We have received a letter from the PM House requesting that two more days be given for submission of yearly statement of assets and liabilities,” a senior ECP official told The Express Tribune on Monday. The letter stated that as the premier was away in New York and London, therefore, he could not submit his statement as required by the election laws.
As the deadline for submission of statements expired at midnight, some 742 members of the parliament and provincial assemblies had filed their statements, till the filing of this report.
Other notables who have not submitted their asset details include Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak. “The K-P CM had not submitted details of his assets till 10 pm,” the senior official informed. The official revealed that statements of three other provincial chief ministers have been received by the commission.
According to the details, 77 senators, 245 members of Punjab Assembly, 245 members of National Assembly, 38 members of K-P Assembly, 37 members of Balochistan Assembly and 100 members of Sindh Assembly had submitted their statements of assets and liabilities.
There still are over 425 members who have to comply with the election laws and submit their yearly statements. Legislators will be stripped off their assembly membership if they do not file details of their assets and liabilities.
In this regard Section 42A (3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, states “The Commission shall, by the fifteenth day of October each year, notify the names of the members who fail to file statements of assets and liabilities within the period specified in sub-section (1) and by an order, direct that such member shall cease to function till such statement is submitted.”
Section (4) further says that “Where a member submits the statements of assets and liabilities under sub-section (1) which is found to be false in material particulars, he may be proceeded against under Section 82 for committing the offence of corrupts practice.”
When asked whether the Commission would suspend the members, who fail to submit their assets details, immediately after the closing date, the senior official expressed bewilderment over the rules in this respect.
The Commission would issue notification of the suspended members of the parliament and provincial assemblies on October 15, in the meanwhile the members may utilise these 15 days as well, he added. It is interesting to note that despite the passage of deadline (September 30) the commission takes 15 days to issue notification of suspended members.
According to Section 42A of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 and Section 25A of the Senate (Elections) Act, 1975, members of the parliament and provincial assemblies were to submit the yearly statements of assets and liabilities to election commission by September 30, 2013. Earlier on September 25, the Commission had reminded the members to submit their declaration by the mentioned date.
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Election Commission MUST release the information of all legislators, including the Senators, Members of National and Provincial Assemblies to print and electronic media as which legislator owns how many properties, cash, gold, cars and other valuable items.
In case if some legislators do not file the required information, they should be suspended till such time they file the report and at the same time they should be penalized for not submitting the required information within the prescribed time limit, except the Prime Minister who was away from the country.