The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has suspended the membership of 32 members of the National Assembly for failing to submit their asset declarations. The announcement was formally made in the House by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
During the National Assembly session, Speaker Sadiq read the ECP’s order and directed that any suspended members present must leave the House immediately. He clarified that their membership will only be restored once they submit the pending asset declarations.
Several high-profile lawmakers are among the suspended MNAs. These include Federal Ministers Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Musadik Malik. Other notable members include Ali Musa Gilani, Abdul Qadir Gilani, Akhtar Mengal, and Mehreen Razak Bhutto.
The suspension list also affects women lawmakers. Five female MNAs, including Saira Afzal Tarar and Mehreen Razak Bhutto, are suspended for non-compliance. The ECP emphasized that the rules apply equally to all lawmakers.
In total, the ECP has suspended 159 lawmakers from the National Assembly, Senate, and provincial assemblies for not submitting asset declarations for the financial year 2024–25.
Provincial and Senate Suspensions:
- Punjab Assembly: 50 members, including Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat and Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi. Three women on reserved seats are also affected.
- Sindh Assembly: 33 members
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly: 28 members
- Balochistan Assembly: 7 members
- Senate: 9 members, including Abid Sher Ali, Murad Saeed, and Noorul Haq Qadri
Officials clarified that all suspended lawmakers are barred from entering their houses or taking part in proceedings until they file their asset declarations. Membership will be restored immediately once the required returns are submitted.
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This move highlights the ECP’s efforts to enforce transparency and accountability among Pakistan’s lawmakers and ensures compliance with legal obligations for public officeholders.
