LAHORE, Oct 14: Another three legislators submitted declarations for their assets and liabilities to the Election Commission of Pakistan at its Lahore establishment on Tuesday.

With this the number of declarations filed at Lahore has risen to 22. They include two MNAs and five provincial ministers. Those submitting the declarations on Tuesday were Punjab Assembly members Mr Zahid Pervez Chaudhry from Gujranwala (PP-94) and Mr Waheed Asghar from Sahiwal (PP-224). The name of the third MPA who filed his declaration with the secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan, could not be known.

Wednesday (today) is the last day for the submission of declarations. Those MPs who failed to submit their declarations by Wednesday noon would cease to act as members of parliament or hold any office until they filed the declaration of their assets and liabilities.

The two MNAs from the Punjab who submitted the declarations on Monday were Ms Bushra Rehman and Shehzadi Umerzadi Tiwana. Also submitting their declarations in Lahore on Monday were senior NWFP minister Serajul Haq, who held the portfolio of finance. Another NWFP MPA who submitted his declaration along with the senior minister was Mr Asif Iqbal, from Peshawar. The Punjab ministers who have submitted their declarations are Mr Mohammad Sibtain Khan from Mianwali, Mian Imran Masood from Gujrat, Syed Raza Ahmad Gilani from Okara and Mr Khadim Husain from Bahawalnagar.

The Punjab MPAs who have since filed their declarations are Malik Khalid Mahmood Wattoo, Mr Shahid Kahlil Noon, Mr Asim Raza and Mr Jahanzeb Imtiaz Gil from Faisalabad, Lala Shakeelur Rehman Chaudhry, Mr Zahid Pervez Chaudhry, Chudhry Muhammad Shabbir and Mr Ejaz Ahmad Samma from Gujranwala, Mr Javed Alauddin Sajid from Okara and Ms Nighat Saleem Khan, elected on a seat reserved for women.

In all 78 members of the Senate, MNas and MPAs from across the country were listed by the Election Commission of Pakistan as having failed to submit their declarations which is required under section 42-A of the Representation of People’s Act, 1976 and section 25-A of the Senate (Election) Act of 1975.

These laws make all the legislators to submit to the Election Commission of Pakistan statements of assets and liabilities of their own, their spouses and their dependents in the family every year by Sept 30.

The same law states that those not filing their declarations with the Election Commission of Pakistan, shall cease to function and their names notified by the evening of Oct 15. Their membership to the assemblies shall not to be restored till they submit their declarations.

The Election Commission of Pakistan, however, acted contrary to the provision of section 42-A (1), extended the date for two weeks and got this decision approved by a meeting held in Lahore on Monday (Oct 13) with Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan in the chair.

The legislators from the Punjab who are yet to submit their declarations include Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz , MNAs Raja Nadir Pervez Khan from Faisalabad, Chaudhry Mehdi Hasan Bhatti from Hafizabad, Umer Ahmad Ghumman and Ali Asjad Mallhi from Sialkot, Mian Jalil Ahmad Sharaqpuri from Sheikhupura, Syed Asad Murtaza Gilani from Multan, Rana Tariq Javed from Sahiwal, Ishaq Khan Khakwani from Vehari, Amir Yar Malik from Bahawalpur, Ms Riffat Ahmad and Ms Farzeen Ahmad. The Punjab MPAs yet to submit their declarations include Sardar Mohammad Ali Khan and Syed Abbas Muhyuddin from Attock, Ejaz Husain Farhat from Chakwal, Ashfaqur Rehman from Toba Tek Singh, Amanat Ali Virk and Haji Mudassar Qayyum Nahra from Gujranwala, Chaudhry Shaukat Ali Bhatti from Hafizabad, Chaudhry Mohammad Arshad from Gujrat, Ms Hameeda Waheeduddin from Mandi Bahauddin, Khush Akhtar Subhani from Sialkot, Malik Ahmad Saeed Khan from Kasur, Mohammad Hasnain Khan Bosan, Dr Nazeer Ahmad Mithu Dogar from Vehari, Mr Javed Akhtar Lund from Dera Ghazi Khan, Malik Jawwad Kamran Khar from Muzafargarh, Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar from Bahawalpur, Mohammad Abdullah Vains from Bahawalnagar, Ms Zeenat Khan, Dr Ms Anjum Amjad, Ms Zahida Sarfaraz, Ms Perveen Sikandar Gill, Ms Lubna Malik, Ms Shamim Akhtar and Haji Qaiser Amin Butt, Baigam Rehana Malik, Mr Ahad Malik and Chaudhry Mohammad Mansha Sandhu from Lahore.

Section 42-A (4) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1976, explains that false declarations may be proceeded against on the charge of committing the offence of corrupt practices. The law is aimed at comparing the declarations of a year with the preceding year and an inquiry may be initiated against members whose assets are found doubtful and disproportionate with the last year.