The Election Commission of Pakistan.—File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) decided on Wednesday to give the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) access to data on bank and tax defaulters, DawnNews reported.

FBR officials said a complete record of bank and tax defaulter was available, adding that it would take 10 days to verify the candidature documents and the candidates’ data for the upcoming elections. The officials further said they would cooperate with the ECP in order to ensure free and fair polls.

The officials of the SBP and the FBR had attended a meeting of the ECP in Islamabad. The meeting, headed by the secretary election commission, discussed the course of action to be taken to prevent bank and tax defaulters from standing in the upcoming elections.

During the meeting, the possibility of examining the candidates’  telephone and mobile phone records was also discussed.

FBR and SBP officials assured the election commission over the provision of data on tax and bank defaulters.