Maps
Magazine

POLITICS & POLICY MAKING

Transparency Concerns Raised Over Proposed Restriction on MPs’ Asset Declarations
Transparency International warns that a new bill limiting public access to MPs’ asset declarations could weaken accountability, conflict with governance reforms, and harm Pakistan’s anti-corruption commitments.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-07
Transparency Concerns Raised Over Proposed Restriction on MPs’ Asset Declarations

A proposed amendment to the Elections Act has raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability in Pakistan, with experts warning that it could undermine public oversight of lawmakers’ finances.

The Elections (Amendment) Bill 2026, currently under consideration in the National Assembly, seeks to restrict public access to the asset declarations of members of parliament (MPs). Transparency International Pakistan has urged the government and lawmakers to withdraw the proposal, cautioning that it could weaken one of the few mechanisms citizens have to scrutinize elected officials’ wealth.

Under the current law, sections 137 and 138 allow the public to inspect MPs’ assets and liabilities, a process considered essential for political integrity and accountability. Limiting access, Transparency International warns, would reduce oversight over lawmakers’ financial conduct and may contradict recent governance reforms aimed at increasing transparency for public officials.

The organization highlighted the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2025, which now requires officers in grades 17 to 22 to disclose their domestic and foreign assets, including those of immediate family members. Restricting MPs’ asset disclosures would create a situation where public employees face stricter transparency rules than elected lawmakers, potentially eroding public trust.

Transparency International further noted that the amendment could negatively impact Pakistan’s ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index, a global measure of public sector accountability, and conflict with the country’s commitments under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which emphasizes public access to asset declarations to prevent illicit wealth accumulation and conflicts of interest.

The organization called on Parliament to maintain strong legal safeguards ensuring public access to MPs’ asset declarations, aligning with international best practices for transparency and anti-corruption measures.
Tagged:

PakistanPolitics

Transparency

AntiCorruption

MPAssets
Share News: