Failure to submit asset details: ECP bars 24 ex-MPs from contesting elections

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared 24 former lawmakers ineligible to contest general elections, by-elections or Senate elections due to their failure to submit statements of assets and liabilities for the financial year 2022-23.

The list includes 10 former members of the National Assembly along with seven former members each from the Sindh and Balochistan provincial assemblies. The electoral body issued the order in connection with non-submission of required documents.

The notification, titled “Submission of annual statement of assets and liabilities by the ex-members of the previous National and Provincial Assemblies for the financial year 2022-23,” states: “The Honourable Commission’s order dated 13-08-2024 has declared the following ex-Members of previous National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies of Sindh & Balochistan ineligible, till submission of requisite Statement of Assets & Liabilities (Form-B) for financial year 2022-23 in compliance with section 137 of the Elections Act, 2017, to contest any General Election/By Election and Senate Election.”

Consequently, these politicians will remain barred from participating in any electoral process until they submit their complete asset details for the specified financial year.

The disqualified former National Assembly members are Khurram Dastgir Khan, Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, Muhammad Adil, Rana Muhammad Ishaq Khan, Kamaluddin, Asmatullah, Samina Matloob, Ms Naseeba, Shamim Ara Panwar and Rubina Irfan.

Similarly, the ECP has disqualified seven former members of the Sindh Assembly, Adeel Ahmed, Hizbullah Bhagio, Arsalan Taj Hussain, Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Imran Ali Shah, Ali Ghulam and Tahira for failing to submit their returns.

Likewise, former Balochistan Assembly members Mir Sikandar Ali, Mir Muhammad Akbar, Sardar Yar Rind, Abdul Rashid, Abdul Wahid Siddiqui, Mir Hamal and Bibi Shahina have also been declared ineligible.