ECP imposes Rs50,000 fine on PM Imran

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on Prime Minister Imran Khan for addressing a rally in Swat on March 16 in violation of the election code of conduct issued for the local government election in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The ECP had on March 15 barred Premier Imran from visiting Swat. Despite the directives, the PM addressed the gathering. According to the new ECP code of conduct, no public office holder can visit the districts where elections are/about to being/be held. The second phase of KhyberPakhtunkhwa local government elections is scheduled for March 31. Earlier, Lower Dir District Monitoring Officer Hameedullah had imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on PM Imran for violating the electoral code of conduct. The ECP had twice issued notices to PM Imran for violating the code of conduct.

The last notice was sent on March 21 for addressing a political rally in K-P’s Malakand. It had directed the prime minister to appear before the Malakand DMO on March 22 at 10am. According to the notice, “The premier had addressed the rally as part of the PTI’s election campaign and had used state resources.”

PM Imran and Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar had filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court against the notices. According to the petition, “The notices have been issued despite new legislation regarding the election campaign.” However, the IHC had refused to restrain the ECP from proceeding against the prime minister, saying that the commission had a mandate to devise a code of conduct for transparent elections. The ECP has banned PM Imran from attending meetings during the second phase of K-P LG elections.