ECP asks parliamentarians to submit assets details by Dec 31

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday has given the deadline to the parliamentarians to submit their asset details by December 31.

The ECP instructed the lawmakers to meet the legal obligation of filing their yearly statements of assets and liabilities, as well as of their spouses and dependents, by Dec 31.

The commission announced that the names of the parliamentarians would be published who failed to submit their asset statements by the prescribed date.

Additionally, lawmakers who violate the order will also be suspended by the commission.

The lawmakers were warned by the ECP that if they presented false information about their holdings, legal action would be taken against them.

The last date for submission of these statements of assets under Section 42A of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1976, and Section 25A of the Senate (Elections) Act, 1975, was Sept 30, but a change was brought through the Elections Act, 2017, to make it Dec 31.

Section 137 (1) of the Elections Act reads: “Every member of an Assembly and Senate shall submit to the Commission, on or before Dec 31 each year, a copy of his statement of assets and liabilities, including assets and liabilities of his spouse and dependent children as on the preceding 30th day of June on Form B.”