ECP notification: Lawmakers barred from visiting NA-122, NA-154

Tough competition is expected between PTI and PML-N in the by-polls

ISLAMABAD: The polls regulatory authority has barred all parliamentarians, including Imran Khan, from visiting and taking part in campaigning for by-elections in NA-122 (Lahore) and NA-154 (Lodhran-I) constituencies where tough competition is expected between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday issued a notification asking all the members of parliament and provincial assemblies not to visit constituencies where by-elections are taking place. The directives are part of a new code of conduct the ECP issued recently.

Previously only president, prime minister, chief ministers and their cabinet members were barred from visiting constituencies going for by-elections.

However, a later amendment in these rules included all members of Senate, national and provincial assemblies. A couple of months ago the Lahore High Court scrapped the rule. But the ECP approached Supreme Court which set aside LHC verdict on September 8.

Following the SC verdict, the poll regulatory body has now issued a fresh notification, which states: “The prime minister, chief minister, federal ministers, state ministers, adviser to president and prime minister, provincial ministers and advisers to chief minister, members of National Assembly/provincial assembly or any person on their behalf shall not visit the constituency or a polling station after issuance of schedule of by-election till completion of poll.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th,  2015.