The National Assembly has approved the Elections Amendment Bill, 2026, which introduces provisions allowing lawmakers to withhold public disclosure of their assets and liabilities if such disclosure poses a serious threat to their safety or that of their families. The bill now requires the Senate’s approval and the president’s assent to become law.
Key Provisions of the Amendment
The bill proposes an addition to Section 138 of the Elections Act, stating that the speaker of the respective assembly or the chairman of the Senate may, upon a member’s application and for documented reasons, decide that the member’s asset declaration should not be made public. This confidentiality can be granted for up to one year at a time, provided that a complete and accurate statement is submitted confidentially to the Election Commission.
Background and Context
Currently, members of the National Assembly, Senate, and provincial assemblies must submit annual statements of assets and liabilities, including those of their spouses and dependent children, to the Election Commission by December 31. The Election Commission is then required to publish these declarations in the official gazette.
This legislative development comes shortly after the Election Commission suspended the memberships of 159 lawmakers across various legislatures for failing to submit their financial statements. This list includes members from the National Assembly, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan assemblies, as well as several senators, some of whom hold ministerial positions.
Next Steps
Following its passage in the National Assembly, the bill will move to the Senate for approval. Upon Senate endorsement, it will require the president’s assent to be enacted into law.
