ECP asks lawmakers to submit statements of assets/liabilities by Dec 31

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday asked the members of the parliament and provincial assemblies to submit yearly statements of assets and liabilities, including of their spouse and dependent children, as on the preceding thirtieth day of June on Form-B for the financial year 2023-24 by December 31, 2024.

According to the ECP statement, the submission being a mandatory requirement under Section 137 of the Elections Act, 2017, which is reproduced below:

“137. Submission of statement of assets and liabilities.

(1) Every Member of an Assembly and Senate shall submit to the Commission, on or before 31st December 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 thirtieth day of June on Form-B.

(2) The Commission, on the first day of January each year through a press release, shall publish the names of Members who failed to submit the requisite statement of assets and liabilities within the period specified under sub-section (1).

(3) The Commission shall, on the sixteenth day of January, by an order suspend the membership of a Member of an Assembly and Senate who fails to submit the statement of assets and liabilities by the fifteenth day of January and such Member shall cease to function till he files the statement of assets and liabilities.

(4) Where a Member submits the statement of assets and liabilities under this section which is found to be false in material particulars, he may, within one hundred and twenty days from the date submission of the statement, be proceeded against for committing the offence of corrupt practice.”