ECP shows interim K-P minister the door

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has ordered the removal of caretaker Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Transport Minister Shahid Khattak from the provincial cabinet for violating the election code of conduct.

In a statement on its official Twitter handle issued late Saturday, the ECP said interim K-P Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan has been directed to remove the minister.

The electoral body said the action was taken against the minister after it learned through media reports that Khattak addressed a political rally (of the Awami National Party) in Nowshera.

According to other reports, the caretaker provincial transport minister had participated in a meeting of the ANP in the last few days, the pictures of which went viral on social media.

Earlier, the K-P provincial election commissioner had sought a report on the participation and speech of the caretaker minister at a public meeting.

The ECP spokesperson emphasised that it was essential for all incumbent governments to adhere to the law and provide complete cooperation to the commission in order to ensure fair, transparent, and unbiased elections.

“The commission cannot grant permission to any incumbent government or minister to participate in any electoral campaign.”

In case of violation, the spokesperson said, legal action would be taken.

He said the commission took these steps to ensure that the government resources were not utilised in election campaigning in order to pave the way for fair elections.

Meanwhile, the caretaker transport minister issued his detailed stance regarding his participation in the meeting held in Nowshera.

In the details issued from Bacha Khan Centre in Peshawar, the interim provincial minister said, “I am a minister in the caretaker cabinet of the province. It was not a political gathering at my residence but a reception for local leaders and elders where the elders presented public issues in the usual open court.”

Khattak said that an attempt was made to create a misunderstanding by reporting the meeting in the media of the reception of the elders and the open court as a public gathering.

“The public gathering are held in the fields and not in houses. The task of the caretaker government is to conduct fair and impartial elections. The Election Commission and the election rules have always been respected.”

The caretaker minister said, “Anyone who has committed corruption should be held to account without discrimination.

“I have a principled stand on corruption in various projects including the Peshawar BRT, and I will not give up my stand against corruption.”