Islamabad (Web Desk): The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has set a firm deadline of December 31 for all members of the national and provincial assemblies to file their statements of assets and liabilities, including those of their spouses and dependents.
This requirement, mandated by Section 137 of the Elections Act, 2017, aims to ensure greater transparency and accountability among lawmakers.
The lawmakers are required to submit their annual asset declarations, which must include the details of their assets and liabilities as well as those of their spouses and dependent children, as of June 30 for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The ECP has made it clear that lawmakers who fail to submit their asset statements by January 15 will face suspension.
Starting January 16, these individuals will be suspended from their positions until they file the necessary paperwork. In addition, the names of those who fail to comply will be published on January 1 each year.
The ECP also issued a warning that any parliamentarian submitting false asset declarations could face serious legal consequences. If a discrepancy or falsification is discovered, the member could be charged with corrupt practices and face legal proceedings within 120 days of submission.
As per the ECP, the declarations must be submitted on Form B, which can be downloaded from the ECP’s official website or obtained, free of charge, from the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad, provincial election commission offices, and the secretariats of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies.