The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stated yesterday that the memberships of those Members of Parliament and Provincial Assembly members who failed to submit their asset declarations for the previous financial year within the prescribed deadline would be suspended today (Friday).
According to sources, the Election Commission said in its statement that the Political Finance Wing would continue to receive the pending asset declarations from members of Parliament and provincial assemblies until the stipulated deadline. Every year on January 16, the membership of those lawmakers is suspended who do not submit their asset declarations for the previous financial year to the Election Commission by January 15. This action is taken under Section 137(3) of the Elections Act.
The section states that on January 16, the Commission shall suspend the membership of Members of the National Assembly, Provincial Assemblies, and the Senate who fail to submit details of their assets and liabilities by January 15, and such members shall not be able to perform their duties until they submit the required details.
Every year on January 1, the Election Commission issues a list of lawmakers who have not submitted their asset declarations. This step is taken under Section 137(2) of the Elections Act 2017.
This year, the list issued on January 1 revealed that nearly a dozen members of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s federal cabinet, including six federal ministers, were among the 446 lawmakers who failed to submit their asset declarations for the previous financial year to the Election Commission, thereby failing to fulfill a basic legal requirement.
Members of Parliament and Provincial Assemblies are legally required to submit details of their assets and liabilities for the financial year 2024–25 to the Election Commission by December 31, 2025. These details must also include the asset declarations of their spouses and dependent children. This legal requirement is imposed under Section 137(1) of the Elections Act 2017.
