Violation of code of conduct: ECP withdraws notice to Imran after he cancels K-P rallies
ECP issued notices to Imran to explain why he and his party announced rallies just days ahead of LG elections in K-P
The ECP on Monday had issued notices to Imran to explain why he and his party had announced rallies just days ahead of local government elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), which are due to be held on May 30. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday cancelled its announced schedule of rallies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa a day after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notices for the party chief to explain the violation of the election code of conduct.
After the party cancelled its rallies, the ECP withdrew its notices to PTI chief Imran Khan.
The ECP on Monday had issued notices to Imran to explain why he and his party had announced rallies just days ahead of local government elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), which are due to be held on May 30.
The PTI had recently issued a programme of rallies which Imran was scheduled headline. The rallies were scheduled for Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur on May 19; Mardan, Kohat and Bannu on May 21; Dir, Malakhand, Swat and Buner on May 23; while Swabi, Charsada, Peshawar and Nowshera on May 26.
In addition to the notice to the PTI chief to appear in person on May 21, it directed PTI MNA and MPAs from indulging in acts that constitute pre-poll rigging and violation of the electoral body’s code of conduct.
Read: ECP serves notice to Imran Khan for violating election code of conduct
After a Haripur Tehsil Council candidate filed a petition with the ECP pointing towards PTI's announced rallies, the poll body issued notices to the party chief and also issued directions restraining PTI parliamentarians from taking part in campaigning.
The ECP had recently amended its code of conduct for elections, barring all parliamentary members, the prime minister, cabinet members as well as senators from taking part in election campaigns of candidates running in any elections.
A notification issued by the ECP two weeks ago, read, “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”.
ECP officials had told The Express Tribune that while there was no bar on MNAs and MPAs from visiting their constituencies, they cannot announce any development schemes or make any such pledges.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday cancelled its announced schedule of rallies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa a day after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notices for the party chief to explain the violation of the election code of conduct.
After the party cancelled its rallies, the ECP withdrew its notices to PTI chief Imran Khan.
The ECP on Monday had issued notices to Imran to explain why he and his party had announced rallies just days ahead of local government elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), which are due to be held on May 30.
The PTI had recently issued a programme of rallies which Imran was scheduled headline. The rallies were scheduled for Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur on May 19; Mardan, Kohat and Bannu on May 21; Dir, Malakhand, Swat and Buner on May 23; while Swabi, Charsada, Peshawar and Nowshera on May 26.
In addition to the notice to the PTI chief to appear in person on May 21, it directed PTI MNA and MPAs from indulging in acts that constitute pre-poll rigging and violation of the electoral body’s code of conduct.
Read: ECP serves notice to Imran Khan for violating election code of conduct
After a Haripur Tehsil Council candidate filed a petition with the ECP pointing towards PTI's announced rallies, the poll body issued notices to the party chief and also issued directions restraining PTI parliamentarians from taking part in campaigning.
The ECP had recently amended its code of conduct for elections, barring all parliamentary members, the prime minister, cabinet members as well as senators from taking part in election campaigns of candidates running in any elections.
A notification issued by the ECP two weeks ago, read, “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”.
ECP officials had told The Express Tribune that while there was no bar on MNAs and MPAs from visiting their constituencies, they cannot announce any development schemes or make any such pledges.