Chief Election Commissioner, former Justice Hamid Ali Mirza has reminded the members of the Parliament and the provincial assemblies to submit their yearly statements of assets and liabilities to the Commission by September 30. This is a mandatory requirement under Section 42A of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 and Section 25A of the Senate (Elections) Act, 1975.
Section 42A provides that every member shall, on a form prescribed under clause (f) of sub-section (2) of Section 12, submit a statement of assets and liabilities of his own, his spouse and dependants annually to the Commission by September 30 each year. The statements of assets and liabilities submitted under sub-section (1) shall be published in the official Gazette and copies thereof may be obtained on payment of prescribed fee.
The Commissioner shall, by October 14 each year, notify the names of the members who fail to file Statements of Assets and Liabilities within the period specified in sub-section (1) and by an order, direct that such member shall cease to function till such statement is submitted.
Moreover, where a member submits the Statements of Assets and Liabilities under sub-section (1) which is found to be false in material particulars, he may be proceeded against under Section 82 for committing the offence of corrupts practice. Similarly, 25A of the Senate (Elections) Act 1975 provides that members of the Senate shall also submit on a prescribed form, the Statement of Assets and Liabilities of his own, his spouse and dependents annually to the Commissioner by September 30 each year.
Their statement of assets and liabilities submitted under sub-section (1) shall be published in the Official Gazette and copies thereof can be obtained on payment of prescribed fee. However, in this case, the Commission shall, October 15 each year, notify the names of the members who fail to file statements of assets and liabilities within the period specified in sub-section.
(1) and by an order, direct that such member shall cease to function till such statement is submitted. Where a member submits the Statement of Assets and Liabilities under sub-section (1) which is found to be false in material particulars; he may be proceeded under Section 62 for committing the offence of corrupt practice.-PR