ECP suspends memberships of 159 lawmakers over failure to submit financial statements

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday suspended the memberships of 159 lawmakers from the National Assembly, Senate and provincial assemblies for failing to submit their financial statements within the stipulated time.

According to a notification issued by the ECP, the suspended lawmakers include 32 members of the National Assembly, nine senators, 50 members of the Punjab Assembly, 33 members of the Sindh Assembly, 28 members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and seven members of the Balochistan Assembly.

Among those suspended are Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah, Federal Education Minister and MQM-P Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, PPP leaders Syed Ali Musa Gilani and Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani, and PML-N MNA Saira Tarar.

The ECP also suspended the memberships of nine senators, including Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, PML-N leader Abid Sher Ali and PTI’s Murad Saeed.

In Punjab, 50 assembly members were suspended, including Rana Sikandar Hayat, Adnan Dogar and Aamir Hayat Hiraj. From Sindh, 33 lawmakers lost their memberships, including former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and provincial minister Saeed Ghani.

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The election watchdog also suspended 28 members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and seven members of the Balochistan Assembly.

The action came a day after the ECP warned lawmakers who had failed to file their details to do so by January 15 or face suspension.

Under election laws, all members of the National Assembly, Senate and provincial assemblies are required to submit details of their assets and liabilities to the Election Commission by December 31 each year. They must also submit the financial statements of their spouse and dependent children on Form-B by June 30 annually.

Failure to comply results in the suspension of membership until the required statements are submitted. During the suspension period, lawmakers are barred from attending assembly sessions and taking part in legislative business, including voting on motions of confidence.