The IMF has raised objections to the legal amendment to keep assets of MPs secret and demanded its withdrawal.
According to sources, the Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan has informed the IMF that the Election Commission will not compromise on transparency under any circumstances and openness in the electoral system will be maintained.
Sources say that the Law Division has informed the IMF that the government has not yet supported these amendments. These amendments were presented as private bills by some members of the National Assembly belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party.
It was further informed that the International Monetary Fund has asked the Law Division to take a clear stand on this issue. The National Assembly had passed an amendment to the Elections Act 2017 with the aim of restricting the public disclosure of assets and liabilities of lawmakers, which was voted in favour by members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
However, according to sources, these amendments have not yet become part of the law as the Senate of Pakistan has not voted on the bill. The IMF has sought further clarification in this regard.
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