CM, Atif fall afoul of election code

ECP issued two separate notices for violating the election code of conduct

PESHAWAR: With elections for some 16 provincial assembly seats in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) due in about a month’s time, the apex poll body of the country has taken notice of the time chosen by the provincial chief minister and other cabinet members for their activities with regards to the newly-merged areas.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued two separate notices for violating the election code of conduct. The first notice was sent to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

The notice, sent to the chief minister’s principal secretary by the K-P Provincial Election Commissioner (K-PECP) Deputy Director Naveedur Rehman, read that, “The Election Commission of Pakistan … has imposed a ban on all developmental schemes in constituencies where the election is under process till the culmination of the election process.

“Furthermore… Commission has issued a code of conduct.”

The letter warned that the interest –free loan distribution ceremony arranged at the Chief Minister Secretariat is a violation of the above instructions and code of conduct issued by the Election Commission.

“You are, therefore, required to defer the planned ceremony until completion of the election process in merged districts and in case of non-compliance the matter will be reported to the commissioner for further action,” it added.

The ECP has also taken notice of the visit of K-P Tourism Minister Atif Khan to the Kurram tribal district and announcing various schemes for the district in violation of election code of conduct.

According to the letter issued by the K-PECP to the District Returning Officer and District Monitoring Officer, the commission directed to take necessary action in light of the code of conduct issued by the poll body and submit a detailed report on the issue for further course of action.

Atif had visited the Kurram tribal district and announced the construction of three sports stadium and a football ground there.

The minister on the occasion also directed the district administration to chalk out a comprehensive plan for the development of three identified tourists' sites in the area.

He asked the district government to provide restaurants, huts and other basic facilities in the areas for the facilitation of tourists, besides promoting cultural and local tradition. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2019.