The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified 26 former members of the national and provincial assemblies from participating in upcoming elections due to their failure to submit the required financial returns for the fiscal year 2022-23. Among the disqualified individuals are 11 former members of the National Assembly, seven from the Sindh Assembly, and eight from the Balochistan Assembly.
The ECP emphasized that these former lawmakers would remain ineligible to contest any elections until they submit their declarations for the 2022-23 financial period. The commission’s decision applies to both national and provincial elections.
Some of the prominent names among the suspended lawmakers include Khurram Dastgir Khan, Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, Muhammad Ali, Kamaluddin, Arsalan Taj, Syed Imran Ali Shah, and Yar Muhammad Rand, alongside several other ex-parliamentarians. Their failure to file the mandatory returns has led to their temporary disqualification, pending submission of the required documents.
The ECP clarified that once the declarations are submitted in accordance with the rules, these former members will regain their eligibility to participate in future elections. The commission reiterated its commitment to upholding the law and ensuring transparency in the electoral process.
The action taken by the ECP is part of its broader efforts to promote financial accountability among elected representatives and ensure that all candidates comply with the legal requirements before contesting elections.
