By-elections: ECP restrains MNAs, MPAs from campaigning for candidates

ECP officials revealed the step was taken after several complaints of ministers' presence in electoral campaigns

ISLAMABAD: As the special judicial commission works vigorously to investigate allegations of rigging in the 2013 general elections, the Election Commission has taken a step ahead, barring all members of national and provincial assemblies from taking part in any candidature campaign for by-elections.

Amending its rules, the top electoral body barred all parliamentarians, including MNAs, MPAs and Senators from taking part in election campaigns of candidates.

A notification issued by the ECP on Saturday read that, “After the issuance of schedule of by-elections, the President, Prime Minister, Chairman/Deputy chairman Senate, Speakers of Assemblies, Federal Ministers and Advisors to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, Provincial Ministers and Advisors to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, Members of the National Assembly/Provincial Assembly and other public office holders will neither visit the area of any constituency nor shall openly or in secret give any subscription or donation or make promise for giving such subscription or donation to any institution of a constituency, nor shall inaugurate, commit to undertake or announce any development project of a candidate of his choice and thereby influence the results of election”.

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The restriction was earlier limited to the President, the prime minister, the chief ministers, and federal and provincial ministers.

Talking to the Express Tribune, ECP officials revealed that the step was taken after receiving complaints that political parties were using low profile ministers to campaign for party candidates in by-polls.

One such complaint was received from NA-108 Mandi Bahauddin-I, which fell vacant after disqualification of Ijaz Chaudhry, who had joined Imran Khan’s PTI few months ago.

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By-polls in the constituency are scheduled June 8.

Citing another example, they said that a provincial minister had visited the constituency to announce some development projects as part of the PML-N's campaign in the constituency.

Notice served

Meanwhile, the commission has served a notice to Hamida Waheedur Rehman, the Punjab Minister for women development who visited a constituency and announced projects in order to give boost to an election campaign.

She has been asked to submit a response within seven days or face action. The commission also served notice to the chief secretary Punjab.

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Besides NA-108, Punjab Assembly constituency PP-196 Multan and K-P’s PK-56 are expected to hold by-elections in the coming weeks. ECP is also expected to announce schedule for by-polls in NA-125 Lahore next week.