The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is likely to verify the declaration of assets annually submitted by lawmakers, sources said. The ECP would take a decision in a meeting of the commission. After the formal approval of the commission, the ECP's political finance wing would probe the asset details of the lawmakers with the help of relevant departments.
A meeting of ECP will be summoned soon regarding verification of the assets. Sources added that there is a law which allows the ECP to hold an enquiry about the assets of parliamentarians, but it was never used in the past. The purpose of year-wise declaration of assets is to keep an eye on the increase in lawmakers' wealth and if any substantial increase in personal property is noted then it would be investigated.
The ECP on Saturday suspended the membership of 336 members of the two houses of the parliament and four provincial assemblies for not submitting statements of their assets and liabilities and those of their spouses and dependents to the commission. A statement issued by the ECP said: "Sub-section (1) of Section 25A of the Senate (Election) Act, 1975 provides that every member of the Senate shall submit a statement of assets and liabilities of his/her own, spouse and dependents annually to the commission by the thirtieth day of September each year. "Sub-section (3) of Section 25A ibid further provides that the commission shall, by the fifteenth day of October 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) thereof and by an order, direct that such member shall cease to function till such statement is submitted."