Aiming to bar bank defaulters and tax evaders from taking part in the forthcoming general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is going to hold an important meeting with the Federal Board of Revenue and State Bank of Pakistan most likely on Wednesday. According to articles 62, 63 of the constitution, bank defaulters, tax evaders, and utility bill defaulters cannot take part in the elections. A senior official of the ECP told Pakistan Today on Monday the ECP representatives will discuss ways in which the SBP and the FBR could formulate mechanisms to scrutinise tax and loan details of candidates in the upcoming next general elections. “Once we formulate a mechanism to get information about tax and loan details of the candidates, only then we will be able to stop tax evaders from taking part in the elections,” the official said.
In the past, a large number of tax evaders, fake degree-holders and even those lacking in characteristics as enshrined in the provision of articles 62 and 63 managed to become parliamentarians. Now, when the ECP is being widely criticised for its ‘friendly’ attitude regarding the implementation of articles 62 and 63, the electoral body is going to hold meetings with the SBP and the FBR to haunt tax evaders and bank defaulters. The election commission has also recommended some amendments in electoral laws, which also include the extension in the one-week period fixed for scrutiny of the candidates to one month period. Currently, the proposals are being discussed in the Senate’s Special Committee on Election Reforms, and there is likelihood that during the ongoing parliamentary session, the proposals will be tabled for final legislations. STAFF REPORT
