Election code: PML-N leaders given ‘last chance’

Maryam Nawaz have until May 4 to appear in person before District Returning Officer.

LAHORE: Maryam Nawaz, daughter of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, and another PML-N leader have until May 4 to appear in person before District Returning Officer (DRO) Nazir Ahmad Gajana to receive notices for alleged violations of the election code of conduct. Last week, Nawaz, Bilal Yaseen and Mian Marghoob were reported by a monitoring team to the DRO for violating sections of the Election Commission’s code of conduct relating to the holding of rallies. They had led a 300-strong rally from Kasurpura to Malipura on April 24 that had obstructed traffic and not been authorised, according to the complaint. The DRO had directed them to appear in person by May 1 to receive the notices. Yaseen appeared before the judge and received his notice, later telling reporters he had not done so earlier as he had been ill. The other two have until May 4 to collect the notices. A day earlier, the DRO had given a similar final warning to PTI chief Imran Khan, who is also alleged to have violated election rally guidelines.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2013.