Election commission: ‘Why can’t the PM canvass?’

Petitioner says ECP’s code of conduct is unconstitutional

LAHORE: Lahore High Court issued a notice to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday on a petition challenging the restriction on the president, prime minister, ministers and party heads to campaign for candidates running in by-polls in various constituencies.

MPA Mansoor Sarwar of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had filed the petition claiming that the code of conduct introduced by the ECP was unconstitutional.

He said keeping supporters at bay violated their fundamental rights. A deputy attorney general said that the restriction had been imposed to keep the election process impartial.

The court directed the law officer to explain the constitutional clause under which the ECP had placed the ban. The court will resume hearing on May 22.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2015.