The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has served a notice on Prime Minister Imran Khan for addressing a public rally in Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), violating the election code of conduct that prohibits public office holders from participating in local government campaigns once the election schedule is issued.
PM Imran spoke at a rally in Lower Dir on Friday, where he, among other matters, told the crowd that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa had told him to stop calling Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman ‘Diesel‘. Lower Dir is one of the districts in KP which will hold the second phase of local body elections on March 31.
“It was conveyed to you that public office holder including prime minister cannot participate in election campaign or canvass in any local council or announce any development scheme after issuance of election schedule,” the ECP’s notice to the prime minister read, as quoted in Dawn.
The notice further claimed that the premier had ‘omitted to comply with the directions of the commission as well as revised code of conduct and visited Lower Dir, held a public gathering, and utilised state machinery’.
Before the rally, the ECP had advised the prime minister to abide by the revised code of conduct and the election body’s directives.
“It has come to the notice of the undersigned (DRO) through print and electronic media that you (PM) are scheduled to visit Lower Dir today (Friday) for canvassing and holding public gathering. Your (PM) attention is invited to the revised code of conduct issued by the ECP regarding restriction on visiting the area of any local council and announcement of any developmental schemes by the public office holders after issuance of election schedule,” the advanced ECP warning read.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has been ordered to appear in person or through counsel before the District Monitoring Officer by March 14, or the ECP will take an ex-parte decision.
Earlier this year, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur also violated KP local government election laws and was expelled from Dera Ismail Khan for repeated violations of the ECP’s code of conduct.
The other KP districts scheduled to hold local body elections at the end of the month include Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Kohistan, Swat, Malakand, Shangla, Upper Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Kurram, Orakzai, and North and South Waziristan.
