October 16, 2003	Thursday	Sha'aban 19, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: The Chief Election Commissioner on Wednesday barred a ruling party MNA, Ishaq Khakwani, and four Punjab MPAs from “functioning” as public representatives for their failure to submit yearly statement of their assets.

According to a notification issued by the Election Commission, Ishaq Khan Khakwani (NA-168 Vehari-II), Haji Qaiser Amin Butt (PP-142 Lahore-VI), Malik Jawad Kamran Khar (PP-255 Muzaffargarh-V), Dr Waseem Akhter (PP-271 Bahawalpur-V ) and Mrs Lubna Malik have been barred from functioning as public representatives till they complied with mandatory provisions of law.

The EC notification said: “The Chief Election Commissioner, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him under Section 42A of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 ... has directed that all these members shall cease to function as members of the respective legislative bodies till such statement is submitted by them with the Election Commission.”

The EC notification said that all elected members of the Senate, National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies were bound to submit their and their dependents’ statement of assets and liabilities by Sept 30 of each year on a prescribed form.

The total number of MNA, Senators, and MPA is 1,170 out of which only five have failed to submit statement of assets and liabilities by the due date.

The EC further said that law also provides that if the statements, filed by any of the elected members, was found to be false in material particulars, he might be proceeded against for committing the offence of corrupt practice.

Ishaq Khakwani was the first MNA to raise objection in the National Assembly on the commission’s statements reminding the public representatives to submit their statement, terming the commission’s action a breach of the members’ privilege.