CEC orders expulsion of PTI minister Gandapur from DI Khan for violating election rules

ECP also issues a notice for the arrest of PPP MPA Ahmed Karim Kundi

ISLAMABAD:

The chief election commissioner has ordered the expulsion of Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur from Dera Ismail Khan for violating the code of conduct for the upcoming second phase of local body elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The chief secretary and inspector general of police (IGP) have been directly ordered by the chief election commissioner to expel Gandapur, who was campaigning for his brother for the city’s mayoral election.

The senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader is increasingly participating in his brother's election campaign for the local body polls.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also issued a notice for the arrest of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Ahmed Karim Kundi and imposed a fine of Rs10,000 on PTI's Member of National Assembly (MNA) Muhammad Yaqub Sheikh for violating the code of conduct.

Also read: PTI gears up for second phase of LG polls in K-P

In December, the ECP had also slapped a fine of Rs50,000 on Gandapur for violating the code of conduct for the local body elections.

Gandapur while addressing a rally during the election campaign of his brother Umar Amin Gandapur, who is a candidate for Dera Ismail Khan mayor’s slot, had threatened the opposition with dire consequences.

He had said that he had the authority to give funds and schemes. He had said that if the rival candidate won, he won’t be allowed to enter the ministry of local government.

Gandapur had reportedly said his brother, Faisal Amin Khan, was the LG minister. “Today, I’m telling you (opponents) that Dera city is not for you.”

DI Khan district monitoring officer Ijaz Ahmed had said legal action would be taken against Gandapur for his remarks during the public meeting.