ISLAMABAD: Eighteen political parties have so far submitted their bank statements for the financial year 2016-17 at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

According to an ECP official, the commission has asked the remaining political parties to submit their bank statements by Aug 29.

He explained that according to Article 14 of the Political Parties’ Order 2002, a party which does not submit its bank statements under Article 13 will not be eligible for obtaining an election symbol for contesting elections for parliament and the provincial assemblies.

He said the commission has reminded political parties that under Article 14 of the Political Parties’ Order 2002, all political parties are to submit to the commission within 60 days of the close of each financial year, a consolidated statement of its bank accounts on Form-1 duly audited by a chartered accountant.

Party account statements are to be accompanied by a certificate signed by the party leader stating no funds from any source prohibited under the act were received by the party and that the statement contains an accurate financial position of the party.

He said the printed forms are available, free of charge, in the ECP Secretariat in Islamabad and in the offices of provincial election commissioners in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and can also be downloaded from the ECP website

He said the statements should be delivered to the secretary, ECP in the Election Commission Secretariat, Constitution Avenue G-5/2 Islamabad by the party leader or via an office bearer of the party authorised by the party leader.

He added that according to rule 11 of the Political Parties’ Act, 2002, any statement received through post, fax, courier service or any other mode will not be entertained.

He said the political parties which have submitted their statements include Pakistan Mohammadi Party, Pakistan Social Justice Party, Pakistan Supreme Democratic Party, Islami Tehreek Pakistan, Pakistan People’s Party (Shaheed Bhutto), Pakistan Rah-i-Haq, Pakistan Awami Muslim League, Pakistan People’s Front, Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan, National Party, Awami League, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaniat, Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Mustaqbil Pakistan, Awami National Party, PML-N and Jamiat-i-Ulema Pakistan (F).

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2017