ECP refuses to delay PK-115 election over complaint against PTI candidate

Complainant says PTI's Abidur Rehman is accused of money laundering; ECP says action can also be taken after polls

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday refused a request to delay polling in PK-115 over concerns regarding money laundering accusations against the candidate fielded by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The ECP, however, has left the door open for possible action against PTI candidate, Abidur Rehman, after the election.

The complainant, Muhammad Azeem Khan Afridi, had requested the ECP to postpone the July 20 election in PK-115 (Ex-Frontier Regions), which is one of 16 general seats up for grabs in the first-ever provincial assembly elections in the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

The applicant also requested that a notice be served to the PTI for an explanation on how the party awarded the PK-115 ticket to a person facing money laundering accusations.

 

 

PTM not a registered party: ECP

The complaint was heard by a two-member tribunal comprising ECP Punjab member Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi and ECP K-P member Justice (retd) Irshad Qureshi.

The tribunal members said ballot papers have already been printed for the PK-115 election and that any decision on the matter can wait till after the election result.

The complainant argued that the ECP was empowered to suspend the electoral process at any point and said the PTI candidate's participation could impact Pakistan's standing with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Putting off the hearing till August 6, the tribunal members pointed out that there was provision to take action against a candidate after the election and the same power could be exercised in this particular case.