October 19, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 6, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to publish in the official gazette statements of assets and liabilities submitted by parliamentarians and members of provincial assemblies.

A meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq here on Thursday found the statements of 71 political parties in conformity with the Political Parties Order, 2002.

The Commission also decided that legislators who had failed to file their statements would cease to function till they submitted them and the notifications might be issued accordingly.

The meeting discussed a resolution submitted by Pakistan People’s Party (Sherpao) and the then chairman of PPP Parliamentarians (Patriots) that both the political parties had reverted to their original position and decided that since the matter was sub judice before the Sindh High Court, it might be kept pending for the time being.

It decided that the draft code of conduct for the next general elections to be observed by the political parties and contesting candidates would be placed before the ECP in its next meeting on October 24.

Meanwhile, copies of the draft will be provided to the political parties and NGOs for comments before its approval.

ECP members Justice Nasim Sikandar of Lahore High Court and Justice Ahmad Khan Lashari of Balochistan High Court, and Kanwar Dilshad, secretary, ECP, also attended the meeting.