The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday suspended the membership of 231 lawmakers, who failed to submit statements of their assets and liabilities within the stipulated period as per law.

According to the Spokesman of ECP, the membership of 13 Senators, 103 Members of National Assembly (MNAs), 58 members of Punjab Assembly, 23 Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) of Sindh, 28 MPAs of Khyber PakhtunKhwa Assembly, 6 MPAs from Balochistan has been suspened.

Out of total 1170 legislators, 936 have so far submitted their statements of accounts, while three seats, including one National Assembly and Punjab Assembly seats are vacant. According to Sub-Section (1) of Section 42A of the Representation of the People Act 1976, every member should submit a statement of assets and liabilities of his own, his spouse and dependent annually to the Commission by September 30, each year.

Sub-section (3) of Section 42A further reads that the Commission shall by 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) thereof and by an order, direct that such Member shall cease to function till such statement is submitted.

The spokesman said that the 231 legislators shall cease to function as Members with immediate effect and till submission of the statement of accounts. Prominent among those, whose membership has been suspended included: Dr Asim Hussain, Abdul Hafiz Shaikh, Rehman Malik, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Jamshed Dasti, Mian Riaz Pirzada, Makhdoom Muhammad Amin Fahim, Syed Naveed Qamar, Nabeel Gabol, Syed Ahmed Mujtaba Gilani, Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani, Nargis Faiz Malik, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Muhammad Ali Durrani and Pervaiz Rashid.