The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has convened an important meeting of the commission on Monday to decide the fate of 16 parliamentarians who have not yet submitted their declaration on dual nationality. Sources in ECP said the Commission may invoke Chief Executive Election Order 2002 and suspend membership of the 16 parliamentarians for non-compliance with the directives of the Commission. And they would be informed that their membership may remain suspended till the filing of a fresh declaration, sources added.
Former Secretary ECP, Kanwer Dilshad in an exclusive interview to Business Recorder said that ECP has immense power to implement its decisions as indicated by the Chief Executive Election Order 2002 Article (6) which states, "The Election Commission shall have power to issue such directions or orders as may be necessary for the performance of its functions and duties, including an order doing complete justice in any matter pending before it and an order for the purpose of securing the attendance of any person or the discovery or production of any document. Any such direction or order shall be enforceable throughout Pakistan and shall be executed as if it had been issued by the High Court".
The ECP can further file complaints against the respondents over corrupt practices under Sections 78 and 82 of the Representation of People's Act 1976 to be read with Sections 193 (punishment for false evidence), 196 (using evidence knowing to be false), 197 (issuing or signing false certificate), 198 (using as true a certificate known to be false) and 199 (false statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Although the ECP has yet to reveal what action it would take against those who have not filed the required papers, the official said that notices would likely served on them before any further proceeding in the matter. A total of 16 lawmakers did not file the declaration with seven MQM lawmakers, five PPP, two PML-N, one JUI-F and one independent member.
The members of parliament who did not file the affidavits are: MNAs Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi, Syed Tayyab Hussain, Dr Nadeem Ehsan, Ms Fauzia Ejaz Khan (MQM), Syed Allauddin and Chaudhry Tasadduq Masud Khan (PPP), Sabeen Rizvi and Araish Kumar (PML-N), Maulana Muhammad Qasim and Senator Malik Salahuddin Dogar (JUI-F). MPAs Murad Ali Shah, Sadiq Ali Memon (PPP), Abdul Moid Siddiqui, Askari Taqvi and Muhammad Raza Haroon (MQM) and Javaid Iqbal Tarkai (independent) also did not file the declarations.
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