Islamabad: Election commission of Pakistan (ECP) is reported to have suspended 26 parliamentarians and Sindh Assembly members. The lawmakers would remain suspended till they declare their assets to the governing body. As a penalty, these people would not be entertained in the sessions neither would they be able to attend meetings held at Senate, National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies.
According to the statement released by the ECP, figures including PPP leader and Senator Faisal Raza Abidi, Senator Mustafa Kamal of MQM while the National Assembly members Abdul Rehman Kanju, Shah Jahan Baloch and Alizeh Iqbal Haider from women’s seat are among the defaulters.
From the provincial assemblies in respective provinces of Baluchistan, Punjab, KPK and Sindh, 1, 4, 7 and 9 law makers have been suspended.
Earlier ECP had issued list that included 40 law makers’ names. Other 14, parliamentarians including the former interior minister Rehman Malik have had submitted their asset details before. ECP has issued notification to the Chairman and speakers of Senate, National and Provincial Assembly about the suspension of the defaulters.
ECP has directed the suspended parliamentarians to submit their asset details for the restoration of their positions.
It is pertinent here to mention that the ECP had granted extended period to 1168 parliamentarians while the MPA’s were given 30th September, the deadline for their submission. The commission body was to issue public notice in relevance to the matter but owing to the Eid holidays it could not proceed with further legal steps.