The lawmakers will undoubtedly have their accountants or other minions draw up the documents required, resume their seats in the houses they stand suspended from, and there the matter will end, leaving behind barely a ripple. PHOTO: APP
The decision taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to suspend 26 legislators for failing to declare their assets really means nothing at all. Indeed, given the existing law, the ECP can really do little else. There are no punitive measures as such suggested against such persons, beyond the temporary revoking of their membership, which is to be restored as soon as the assets are declared. This is to happen quite regardless of whether or not the assets declared are accurate. A law with sharper teeth is quite evidently needed.
The ECP action comes two weeks after the deadline to file asset statements expired. The people affected include two senators as well as three members of the National Assembly. The other 21 served notices by the ECP are provincial assembly members. Since no house is currently in session, the ‘suspensions’ are really just cosmetic. The lawmakers will undoubtedly have their accountants or other minions draw up the documents required, resume their seats in the houses they stand suspended from, and there the matter will end, leaving behind barely a ripple.
This is not, of course, how things should be. The ECP has limited powers of action and this prevents it from doing more. The fact that it delayed a decision till after the Eid holiday period is, however, unfortunate — more prompt responses could at least indicate greater earnestness of purpose. We should also be asking, in this as in other matters, what part the political parties themselves are playing. Promoting, indeed ensuring, integrity from their members is crucial to setting examples and bringing change. We need to see these reforms within parties given that punishment alone — even if it were more effective than what we see in the present case — cannot achieve goals. The political parties, too, must demonstrate a greater commitment to this than is currently the case. So far, we do not see any one of them attempting to do so.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2013.
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