The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has asked the political parties to file their statements of accounts by 29 August.
In a press release on Thursday, the ECP drew the attention of the political parties to the provisions of Article 13 of the Political Parties Order, 2002, which provides that every political party shall submit to the Election Commission, within 60 days from the close of each financial year, a consolidated statement of accounts of the party, duly audited by a chartered accountant.
The ECP said a certificate signed by the party leader must accompany the statement of accounts stating that no funds from any source prohibited under the Political Parties Order, 2002, were received by the party, and the statement contains an accurate financial position of the party.
It said prescribed printed forms are available free of cost in the Election Commission Secretariat, Islamabad and in the offices of provincial election commissioners, Punjab, Sindh, KP and Balochistan.
The commission warned that a party, which fails to submit its statement of accounts under Article 13, will not be eligible to obtain election symbol for contesting elections for Majils-e-Shoora (Parliament) and provincial assemblies.
The statements are required to be delivered to the ECP secretary in the Election Commission Secretariat, through an office-bearer of the party, duly authorised by the party leader. The statements received through post, fax, courier service or any other mode will not be entertained.