The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday barred Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from attending a political rally in K-P’s Kurram district, where the premier was scheduled to address a public meeting.
District Returning Officer Karam Khushalzada issued notices to PM Imran and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan through the principal.
The electoral watchdog issued the warning in light of K-P’s upcoming local government elections.
In an earlier letter, the commission had informed the premier that he as well as other public officer-holders could not visit any area of any local council or announce any development scheme after the issuance of the election schedule.
It had warned PM Imran that legal proceedings under sections 233 and 234 of the Election Act 2017 could be initiated against him if he violated any provisions of the revised code.
The commission has issued a new code of conduct after consultation with all political parties. According to the new code, only members of parliament would be allowed to participate in the election campaign. However, public office-holders would not be permitted to participate in them.
Last week, the ECP sent a notice to PM Imran for participating in a rally in Lower Dir in connection with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa local bodies elections.
PML-N demands action against PM
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb also demanded action from the ECP against Prime Minister Imran Khan for disobeying its order.
Read ECP expresses concern over law tweak
In a statement, she said that violation of the commission’s orders is a crime and the premier should be punished under Sections 234, 233, 181 of the Code of Conduct.
Calling for the prime minister to be punished for “violating the use of state resources”, the former information minister said that his behavior shows that “he does not respect the constitution and law”.
She said that his actions were in “clear violation” of ECP’s orders, thus punishable under Election Act, 2017.
She claimed that the premier was left isolated as the entire nation was standing against him.
The PML-N leader asked PM Imran to mention foreign funding and money laundering in his speech besides economic catastrophe, unemployment and inflation. She pointed out that the premier had highlighted 10 million jobs and five million households in his speech.
The government and the opposition are at loggerheads, especially since the latter moved the motion of no-confidence against it, leading to tensions that have been unresolved ever since.
Moreover, PTI is determined to win seats in Khyber Pakthunkhwa (K-P), where is in power, ever since it lost the first phase of local government elections.
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