Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja questioned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s win in the recent by-polls, saying an elected member of the National Assembly cannot contest elections again.
The CEC made the remarks while presiding over a hearing regarding the violation of the election code of conduct by the PTI chairman when he held a rally in the NA-24 constituency of Charsadda prior to the by-polls.
“Where is it written in the Constitution that if a person is a member of the National Assembly, he can again contest the election for being a member of the assembly?' the CEC asked Imran's counsel.
“Your client says there have been 150 resignations. Where are the resignations? Bring those resignations, we will accept them now,” added the CEC.
The former premier’s lawyer stated that the majority of the resignations are with the secretary of the National Assembly and that they were not sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Read: PTI again moves judicial council for CEC Sikandar Raja's removal
The lawyer told further informed the ECP that no advisory was issued to the PTI chief to not attend the rally in Charsadda nor did he use any government resources for the public gathering.
The ECP then reserved its verdict in the election code of conduct violation case.
Earlier, the commission had imposed a fine of Rs50,000 each on former prime minister Imran Khan, K-P chief minister and his cabinet members for violating the code of conduct for the upcoming by-polls by attending a political rally in Peshawar and using state resources for it.
By-elections were in four NA constituencies of K-P -- Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan and Kurram -- on October 16. The PTI chairman was a candidate for all these constituencies.
According to the ECP’s code of conduct, state machinery cannot be used for any political activity in an area where elections are being held.
Besides, the president, prime minister, chief minister, governor, speaker, cabinet members or any public office-holder shall not attend a political rally or use official resources in favour of any candidate in an area where the election schedule has been announced.
Imran makes history
The former premier won six National Assembly seats for the PTI in a by-election that was seen as a direct contest between the former ruling party and the current ruling coalition, which also grabbed two seats.
Out of the eight National Assembly seats previously held by the PTI, Imran contested on seven, while Meher Bano Qureshi was to defend the party’s bastion in Multan.
However, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) made inroads, with Hakeem Baloch winning in Karachi and Ali Musa Gilani in Multan.
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