Islamabad, Pakistan:  Pakistan’s National Assembly of Pakistan has passed a significant legislative amendment permitting elected representatives to keep their personal and family asset details confidential, citing security-related concerns. The move, however, faced opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The National Assembly approved the Election Amendment Bill 2026 on Wednesday, enabling members of Parliament to withhold public disclosure of their assets and liabilities. The bill applies to lawmakers at both federal and provincial levels under specific conditions.

Under the existing framework of the Election Act, 2017, members of the National Assembly, Senate, and Provincial Assemblies are required to submit annual declarations of assets and liabilities, including those of spouses and dependent children, to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by December 31 each year. These details are subsequently published in the Official Gazette as mandated by Section 138 of the Act.

The newly passed amendment allows lawmakers to seek exemption from public disclosure by submitting a written request to the Speaker of the National Assembly or the Chairman of the Senate, citing security risks. Additionally, if a confidential undertaking is filed with the ECP, the asset details may remain undisclosed for a period of up to one year.

The government has defended the legislation by stating that members of Parliament often face serious security threats, making public disclosure of personal wealth a potential risk.