ECP Asks MPs To Submit Assets Details By Oct 15

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Oct, 2016 ) : The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Friday asked the parliamentarians to submit the details of annual statement of assets and liabilities of themselves, spouses and dependents for the year 2015-16 by October 15.

Talking to media, Additional Secretary ECP Fida Muhammad said ECP's relevant offices would remain open on Saturday to enable the parliamentarians to submit their annual accounts and liabilities' statement.

The membership of the MPs could be suspended if fail to submit their account details by Saturday evening, he warned. Responding to a question, he said submission of assets and liabilities' details is a mandatory requirement under Section 42A of the Representation of the People Act 1976 and Section 25A of the Senate (Elections) Act 1975.

Members of the Senate, National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Paktunkkwa and Balochistan are required to submit the assets information to the Election Commission Secretariat by September 30 every year.

Referring the relevant law, he said the commission shall, by October 15 each year, notify the Names of 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.

"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".

He said the statement of assets and liabilities would be published in the official gazette and copies can be obtained on payment of prescribed fee. A member may be punished on submission of false details in the annual statement of assets and liabilities, he said while responding to a question.

Sharing updated details of Parliamentarians/Members of the provincial assemblies, who have submitted their assets and liabilities by Friday. He said only 69.08 percent parliamentarians and members of provincial assemblies have so far submit their annual statement of assets and liabilities.

According to the data, 811 parliamentarians and member of provincial assemblies from out of a total of 1174 have so far submitted their annual statement of assets and liabilities while 348 parliamentarians have not yet submitted their annual statement of assets and liabilities to ECP as per mandatory law.

A total of 15 seats are still vacant in various assemblies. According to details 82 senators from out of 104 have so far submitted their annual statement of assets and liabilities. Two hundred and sixty eight MNAs from out of 342 have submitted their annual assets, liabilities details while 71 have not yet submitted their accounts of assets and liabilities.

Three seats of National Assembly are vacant. As many as 225 MPAs of Punjab Assembly have submitted their accounts from out of a total of 371. And 140 have not yet submitted their account details.

Six seats are vacant. One hundred and fifteen members of Sindh Assembly (MPAs) from out of a total of 168 have so far submitted their assets and liabilities details. Four seats of Sindh Assembly are vacant right now, he added.

A total of 50 members of Balochistan Assembly from out of a total of 65 have submitted their liabilities and assets details. 15 MPAs have not yet submitted their account details. Seventy one MPAs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from out of 124 have submitted their assets and liabilities details. The details of 51 MPAs are still awaited. There are two seats are vacant in KP Assembly.