ISLAMABAD: Over 500 members of the parliament and provincial assemblies, including a number of federal and provincial ministers and leading politicians, have failed to file their statements of assets and liabilities with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as the last date for the purpose prescribed under the law expired on Tuesday.

But, those who did not meet the legal requirement know that there is nothing to worry about it. They are set to benefit from what has now become a ‘convention’ under which they will get at least two more weeks for submission of these documents.

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Under Section 42-A of the Representation of Peoples’ Act, 1976 and Section 25-A of the Senate (Elections) Act, 1975, all members of the parliament and provincial assemblies are required to submit with the ECP yearly statements of assets and liabilities of their own as well as spouses and dependents by Sept 30.

The ECP under the law is to notify ‘by October 15’ the names of those who do not submit their statements by the last prescribed date (Sept 30) and to direct that such members will cease to function till the legal formality was met.

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Experts say that Oct 15 is the last date for issuance of notification and the ECP can suspend the defaulting members even on Oct 1. But, it has never happened in the history of the country and even the issuance of notification has gone beyond Oct 15 in the recent history.

Under the law those who submit false information can be proceeded against for commission of corrupt practices, which entails a punishment of up to three years imprisonment, with the conviction leading to disqualification. But, this too has never happened as no mechanism is in place.

The lawmakers though are required to submit statements of assets of their dependents and spouses as well, but many conveniently skip this with no questions asked.

Prominent among those who submitted statements of assets and liabilities on the last date included Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, former interior minister Rehman Malik and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s statement of assets was filed on Monday.

Informed sources told Dawn that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was the only chief executive of a province to have failed to meet the legal formality.

Published in Dawn, October 1st , 2014