ECP Seeks Clarifications From MNAs On Asset Declarations

ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 05th Jan, 2017 ) : Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sent notices to members of National Assembly seeking clarifications in their annual statements of assets and liabilities.

Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, Additional Secretary Election Commission Muhammad Fida Khan said the ECP had started audit of statements of assets and liabilities of members of National Assembly.

After audit, the forms were being put before members of the ECP to seek orders for further action. In the first phase, forms of 10 parliamentarians were scrutinised, he added. The ECP scrutinised forms of MNA Ghulam Ahmed Bilour NA 1 Peshawar I, Hamidul Haq NA 2 Peshawar II, Sajid Nawaz NA 3 Peshawar III, Gulzar Khan NA 4 Peshawar IV, Imran Khattak NA 5 Nowshera I, Siraj Muhammad Khan NA 6 Nowshera II, Maulana Muhammad Gauhar Shah NA 7 Charsadda I, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao NA 8 Charsadda II, Amir Haider Khan NA 9 Mardan I and Ali Muhammad Khan NA 10 Mardan II.

The forms of the members carried ambiguities and information was missing, the Secretary said. Fida said during scrutiny, it was observed that members of the assembly did not fill the forms carefully.

During years 2013-16, the parliamentarians kept repeating the information, which they had first given in the nomination forms filed for contesting general elections of 2013. The same annexures of assets and liabilities were repeatedly attached with the forms in four years without any change and increase or decrease in assets, he noted.

He said the ECP had sent notices to these members for clarifications. If the members would not send their clarifications within two weeks then reminders would be issued. Fida hoped that the whole exercise of scrutiny of forms would be completed by June this year.

After audit of asset forms of members of National Assembly, forms of members of Senate and provincial assemblies would be analysed, he added. To a question, he said the ECP was analyzing the assets according to present laws and later would modify the asset forms according to the new law on electoral reforms.

He clarified that under the new law, responsibility of scrutiny would not be shifted to Federal board of Revenue (FBR) rather the ECP would continue performing this role.