Bill allowing MNAs, Senators hide assets

ISLAMABAD: Citing security concerns, PPP lawmaker Shazia Marri had moved a bill Wednesday (21st Jan, 2026) introducing amendments to the 2017 Elections Act, allowing MNAs and senators keep their assets confidential for up to one year, which was passed by NA.

The new law dictates that if a lawmaker requests NA speaker or Chairman Senate that, due to some credible threat, details of their own or their family’s assets be kept secret, ECP will be bound to keep the information confidential for up to one year. It is almost sure that the Senate will approve it while the President will endorse it for sure. The bill now requires approval from the Senate and assent from the president before it can become law.

The bill seeks to insert a proviso stating: “Provided that the speaker of the concerned assembly or, as the case may be, the chairman of the senate my, on an application made by a member and for reasons to be recorded in writing, by a ruling delivered in the chamber, determine that the statement of assets and liabilities of that member shall not be published publicly by the commission if such publication would pose a serious threat to the life or safety of the members or, as the case may be, his family, for a period not exceeding one year at a time and subject to the condition that a complete and true statement of assets and liabilities shall be submitted confidentially to the election commission.”

One may recall the passage of 27th constitutional amendment bill that had similarly sailed through NA on 12th Nov, 2025 as opposition members walked out. According to the new bill that was passed with 234 votes:

i) Chief of Army Staff to assume role as Chief of Defence Forces; ii) Field Marshal, Marshal of Air Force, Admiral of Fleet titles to remain for life;

iii) Incumbent chief justice to remain CJP until completion of current term;

iv) Senior-most among SC CJ and FCC CJ will be designated Chief Justice of Pakistan;

v) Federal Constitutional Court to be established;

vi) Equal provincial representation approved in Federal Constitutional Court; vii) FCC empowered to take suo motu notice upon petitions;

viii) President and PM to play a key role in judicial appointments; Presidential immunity limited if president assumes any public office after tenure; Judicial Commission to decide transfer of high court judges; Objections on transfers to be reviewed by SJC.

Speaking on the occasion PPP Chairman held: “We have witnessed prime ministers and ministers being humiliated under the pretext of suo motu. The judiciary even used this authority to regulate the prices of tomatoes and potatoes.

“We have seen a Chief Justice use this power to initiate a dam project. But from now on, there will be no suo motu…This time, through the 27th Amendment, we are establishing a proper constitutional court.”

“We may have political or ideological differences, but the entire nation must unite against terrorism,” he said, while harboring on the issue.

PTI, on 8th Nov, 2025, maintaining that the 27th Amendment Bill was a conspiracy against the Constitution, refused to discuss it. According to PTI, any change to the Constitution must come through national consensus and not by means of clandestine executive orders.

Nevertheless, PTI Senator Ali Zafar speaking during the Senate’s session said: “We can sit and think. There are a lot of options how to reduce the pendency of cases. We are ready to talk with you to consider amendments that will benefit the people, but we will not tolerate that you harm the public…

“When you make any change in the Constitution, it is equal to tampering with the foundation of a building, and if you make any mistake, the entire building can collapse…You cannot force a Constitution through bullets…Respect the mandate of the people and kindly do not vote for this amendment.”

Senate took to the X to inform: “A joint meeting of the Senate and National Assembly Committees on Law & Justice, co-chaired by Senator Farooq H. Naek and Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Virk, MNA, was held to consider the Constitution (Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2025.”

Newspakistan.tv