ECP restores membership of 32 legislators after disclosure of assets

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) restored on Wednesday membership of 32 parliamentarians out of a total 261 who had been barred from functioning as members of their respective assemblies last week by the electoral watchdog over their failure to submit statements of assets and liabilities.

Those who have been restored as members of their respective assemblies include MNAs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Talal Chaudhry and Dr Fehmida Mirza. “The above-mentioned members have now filed the statements of assets and liabilities and have fulfilled the legal requirement,” the top poll regulator said in a statement.

“In pursuance of the aforesaid provisions of law and in exercise of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the Election Commission is pleased to restore, subject to all just exceptions, the membership of National Assembly and provincial assemblies, Punjab, Sindh, K-P and Balochistan of the aforesaid persons,” it added.

Capt Safdar, Ayesha Gulalai among 261 lawmakers suspended by ECP

The ECP had earlier issued circulars to the lawmakers under Sub-Section (1) of Section 42A of the Representation of People Act (RoPA) to submit their financial details by September 30 or face the music. Subsequently, the membership of 261 lawmakers who had failed to submit their record were suspended.

Under RoPA, all parliamentarians are required to submit details of their assets, including those of their spouses and children, to the ECP by September 30.

Section 42A of the RoPA, 1976, states: “Every member shall, on a form prescribed under Clause (f) of Sub-Section (2) of Section 12, submit statements of assets and liabilities of his own, his spouse and dependents annually to the commission by the thirtieth day of September each year.”

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