ISLAMABAD: As many as 312 political parties have failed to submit their statements of bank accounts for financial year 2016-17 with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) within due time.

According to an official of the ECP, major political parties who failed to submit their statements of accounts included Mutahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan), Muslim League (Functional), Pakistan, Muslim League (Zia), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo).

He said that out of 345 parties only 31 have submitted their statements.

H said that any such political party which has failed to submit party account statements within due time will not be allowed to contest any future election and these political parties will not be issued party symbol by the ECP.

According to the official, the final date for submission of statements expired on August 29 (Tuesday).

He said the commission had reminded the political parties that in terms of Article 13 of the Political Parties Order, 2002, they had to file their statement of accounts with it.

The statement is required to be accompanied by a certificate signed by the party leader stating that no funds from any source prohibited under Political Parties Order, 2002, were received by the party and that the statement contains an accurate financial position of the party.— APP