Asset disclosure sought from local representatives

Dec 14, 2017-The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) has asked all the elected local level representatives to submit their property details within a week.

The ministry on Wednesday issued the directive with a deadline after representatives from the majority of local level units did not respond to two previous requests to submit their property details. Only around half the representatives from 20 among 77 districts have submitted their property details. Over 30,000 representatives were elected from 753 local level units across the nation.

Under Clause 5 of the Corruption Prevention Act, public post holders are required to submit property details in their or family members’ names, along with sources or evidence thereof, within 60 days of assuming office or thereafter within 60 days of the completion of each fiscal year. Failure to do so within the given time means the public post holder must a pay a fine of Rs 5,000, or the concerned body or official may an investigation into the property in the person’s or family member’s name.

It has already been six months since the first phase of local elections were held in May and three months since the third and final phase of polls in the first week of September. “Legal action based on the existing legal provisions will be initiated those failing to furnish the property details within the deadline,” reads the ministry statement.