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.
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