Three govt officials accused of endorsing PML-N candidate

ECP focal person says action will be taken if there was evidence against the officials

MULTAN: Three government officials have been accused of violating the Election Commission of Pakistan code of conduct by canvassing for a candidate for union council chairman seat in Layyah.

Of the three, two have denied comment while speaking to The Express Tribune on Saturday.

In a letter sent on Friday, Mohiyyudin Sukhaira, another candidate for chairman’s seat in Waran Saihran union council, has urged the ECP to take action against three officials for canvassing for PML-N candidate Zeeshan Murtaza Sukhaira.

The application accuses Planning and Development Department’s Sardar Haibat Khan, Revenue Department’s land record officer Irfan Haider and a civil judge of addressing a campaign rally arranged by Zeeshan Sukhaira.

Speaking to The Tribune, the complainant said the three officials had violated the ECP’s code of conduct. “Government officials are not allowed to endorse a candidate,” he said.

Zeeshan Murtaza said the three officials were his close relatives. “They did not solicit votes for me. They just came to attend the rally,” he said.

ECP focal person Arshad Ali Watoo said he had yet to receive the complaint. He said strict action would be taken against the three officials if there was evidence against them. He said he had asked the ECP staff to monitor the campaign and report irregularities.

Planning and Development Department’s Sardar Haibat Khan and Revenue Department’s land record officer Irfan Haider declined comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2015.