Election Commission of Pakistan. PHOTO: FILE
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will suspend today the membership of over 71 lawmakers – from both houses of parliament as well as provincial assemblies – who failed to declare details of their assets even after the deadline.
“The commission cannot take the risk of delaying the matter any further,” a senior ECP official told The Express Tribune on Sunday. “The notification, in this regard, will be issued on Monday (today),” he added.
The ECP had seemingly abdicated its authority as it failed to take action against the 71 lawmakers even after the deadline. The official attributed the delay in action to Eidul Azha holidays.
According to the Representation of People Act (RPA), 1976, every elected representative must declare her/his assets’ details every year by September 30. The law stipulates October 15 as last date for the ECP to notify the violators and stop them from working as lawmakers.
Clause 42A of the RPA is very clear: “The Commission [ECP] shall, by the fifteenth day of October each year, notify the names of the members who fail to file Statements of Assets & 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.”
The law says that if a member’s statement of assets is found to be false in material particulars, he may be proceeded against for committing the offence of corrupts practice. However, it may be recalled that the ECP has never before verified any such assets’ statement.
Responding to a question, the official said the lawmakers who submit their assets’ details on Monday would not be suspended. “However, the commission is not likely to further delay the notification,” he added.
According to sources, the lawmakers not complying include four senators, 19 MNAs and 48 MPAs from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senators Rehman Malik, Faisal Raza Abidi and Islamuddin Sheikh and Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Senator Syed Mustafa Kamal are among those who have not submitted their assets’ details.
In the National Assembly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf are at the top with five MNAs each who have yet to submit their assets’ details – followed by four members of the PPP.
PTI’s Asad Umer and PPP’s Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho are among the notable lower house’s members who have not complied with the ECP’s condition. In Punjab Assembly, four members each from the PTI and PML-N are likely to be suspended today.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2013.
COMMENTS (11)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
ECP should also set some timeline to check and verify the statement of assets and liabilities submitted by these innocent lawmakers and get it double check by FBR.
These so-called public representatives should first be accountable to check how honest are they ?
@the Skunk: "....We pray that the dynastic family politicos are banned and are never ever allowed to re-enter politics. " . Were it not for the clever Aunt Jemima's refusal to spend an extra day in Pakistan, the now acclaimed Buzdil Khan, would have launched his Royal Family in the political field long long ago. Does it really matter if they would continue living in London Town? . Quite a few years left before any of the Junior Khan Bahadurs hits 25. What waters are going to flow under the bridge till that time?
We pray that the dynastic family politicos are banned and are never ever allowed to re-enter politics. Every single Pakistani will be hale, hearty, healthy, smiling, gainfully employed, attend school, go to recreation centers, go shopping, read books, and continue with life as usual. Salams
@The Economist: "Shock to see PTI in this list because Imran Khan was always in favour of transparancy and in fact he was the first person to declare his assets online. " . The party(if it can be called a party at all) cannot distinguish between words and deeds.
I've known Asad Umar for more than 25 years and have yet to see a more honest, law abiding person - Just the fact that his name is on this list is enough proof to me that this list is absolutley INVALID!! .
Should have eliminated them as office holders on Sept 30 at the end of business day. If you have a law - enforce it.
The ECP comes across like a struggling toothless tiger and many question, is it even a tiger.
ET; naming all members from PPP, just one name form PTI and excluding PML names all together where as majority of the legislators who did not declared the assets are PML (N); is it not a biased reporting? Perhaps the poor MNAs of PML (N) do not possess any assets to declare that's why there are spared by the vibrant and assertive media. (It may not pass ET moderation policy) A Peshawary
Shock to see PTI in this list because Imran Khan was always in favour of transparancy and in fact he was the first person to declare his assets online.
How can you declare assets when you don't have them?