ECP disqualifies PTI's Shangla MPA

MPA Abdul Munim had not told the ECP that he was working as a teacher at a government school just before the elections

PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified a Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly (K-P) lawmaker affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Wednesday for hiding that he was working as a school teacher just before the elections.

The ECP ordered that criminal proceedings be started against Abdul Munim, who was elected from the PK-88, District Shangla constituency in the 2013 general polls, and the salaries paid to him also be taken back.

Munim was currently serving as the special assistant to the K-P chief minister on tourism. He had defeated Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) candidate Sher Alam to secure the seat.

Alam had filed a reference with the ECP seeking Munim’s disqualification on the grounds that the latter had been dishonest and not informed the commission that he was working as a teacher at a government school in Kohistan before the elections in May, 2013 and had drawn his last salary in March, 2013.

According to the ECP rules, a government servant cannot run for a seat for two years after their retirement.

"He [Munim] had resigned during the general elections campaign but his resignation was not accepted and his General Provident Fund is still with the education department,” Alam told The Express Tribune.

"They [ECP] were not aware about his teaching job as he was a teacher in Kohistan which falls in Hazara Division. The Shangla constituency falls in Malakand Division," he added.

“Last year we found out about his teaching job and then I filed a petition with the ECP on December 22 seeking his disqualification."

A spokesperson for the ECP K-P said the schedule for the PK-88, District Shangla by-election would be announced soon.

Munim is currently in China to participate in a K-P government road show.