The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) suspended the memberships of Fawad Chaudhry, Fehmida Mirza and Ali Zaidi, all three who are part of the federal cabinet along with 152 other members of the Senate, national and provincial assemblies.
The members have been suspended for not submitting their asset and liability statements with the ECP.
According to Section 137(1) of the Elections Act, 2017, parliamentarians are legally required to submit a statement of their assets and liabilities, as well as those of their spouses and dependent children, by December 31 each year, however, the 154 members have not done so.
The lawmakers will remain suspend till the declare their assets and liabilities.
According to the Section 137 of the Elections Act:
“(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 subsection (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.”
Commenting on the development, Federal Minister Ali Zaidi said: “I filed my taxes on Dec 28, 2020 & submitted the asset declaration form with the ECP on Jan 5, 2021. Don’t understand the fuss!”
