The National Assembly passed on Wednesday January 21, 2026 (today) an amendment to the Elections Act, 2017 to limit public disclosure of legislators’ assets and liabilities.

Moved as a private member bill by Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians lawmakers Shazia Marri , the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposed to amend Section 138 of the Elections Act, 2017.

What does Section 138 provide?

Section 138 provides for the publication of members of parliament’s statements of assets and liabilities in the official gazette and allows public access to these statements. Read with the Election Rules, 2017, the provision allows any person to obtain copies of these statements on payment of court stamp fees amounting to rupees ten per page.

In 2023, the Election Commission of Pakistan amended the corresponding Rule 138 of the Election Rules, 2017, requiring applicants to provide identification, state the purpose for seeking the information through Form-67, and submit an affidavit affirming that the data obtained under Section 138 will not be misused.

What does the proposed amendment seek to change?

The bill, as introduced in the National Assembly on May 13, 2025, proposed the insertion of two provisos to Section 138. The first proviso provided that the extent of disclosures made in the official gazette and in copies supplied to the public would be determined with due regard to maintaining a balance between public interest in good governance and an individual’s privacy and security.

The second proviso stated that the extent of such disclosure would be determined by the Speaker of the concerned Assembly and, in the case of the Senate, by the Chairman.

However, the version of the bill, as reported by the standing committee, consolidated the two provisos into a single proviso. The clubbed and reworded proviso authorizes the Speaker or the Chairman, upon a request filed by a member, to issue an in-chamber ruling directing the Election Commission to withhold the publication of that member’s statement of assets and liabilities for one year if such publication is deemed to pose a serious threat to the life or security of the member or their family.

Additionally, the standing committee, upon proposal of PML-N MNA Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, had recommended to amend Sections 9, 66, 104, 104-A, 155, 202, 212 and 232 to replace the mention of the Supreme Court with the Federal Constitutional Court. The bill passed by the House carried all these changes, as recommended by the Committee.

What is the current status of the bill?

The bill was introduced in the National Assembly of Pakistan initially on May 13, 2025, in the names of MNAs Naveed Qamar and Shazia Marri.

Upon  introduction, it was referred to the Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, chaired by PML-N MNA Rana Iradat Sharif Khan. The bill remained on the agenda of the committee’s meetings held on November 20, 2025, December 24, 2025, and January 19, 2026. The Committee considered the bill on January 19 and recommended it for passage by the plenary along with amendments proposed by the Committee. The presentation of committee’s report on the bill was also included on the National Assembly’s agenda for January 21, 2026.

Following the presentation of the committee report, the mover of the bill sought the suspension of the requirement under due legislative procedure that members be given at least two clear days to examine the bill after presentation of the committee report and before the second and third readings of the bill.

Afterwards, the House proceeded with clause-by-clause consideration of the bill (second reading) and subsequently its passage (third reading). Upon passage by the National Assembly, the bill will now be transmitted to the Senate of Pakistan for consideration.

Citizens and civil society organisations may review the proposed amendment and convey their concerns or suggestions to the bill’s movers through the official websites of the National Assembly and the Senate.

  • This is a developing story and was updated last at 5:15pm on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Stay tuned to our website for further updates on the amendment.