Elected representatives were barred from campaigning for candidates. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The election authorities have withdrawn the notices sent to Imran Khan and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders after the party cancelled its scheduled rallies in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where local government elections are scheduled on May 30.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had served notices on the PTI chief and others on a petition filed by a candidate running for the Haripur tehsil council as public gatherings by elected representatives are a violation of the ECP’s code of conduct.
But the polling authority withdrew the notice after the Haripur district returning officer reported to the commission that the PTI had cancelled its rally in the area.
The PTI chief was asked to appear before the commission on May 20 to explain his position on his scheduled programme of holding rallies in different parts of K-P, which his party governs. Khan was scheduled to visit and address public gatherings in Manshera, Abbottabad and Haripur on Tuesday. Later, he was to address public gatherings in Mardan, Kohat and Bannu on May 21; Dir, Malakhand, Swat and Buner on May 23; and finally Swabi, Charsada, Peshawar and Nowshera on May 26.
After recent amendments, the ECP has revised the code of conduct for elections and barred all members of the national and provincial assemblies and senators from taking part in electioneering for candidates running in any by-election. The rules are, however, unclear about local government polls.
ECP officials told The Express Tribune that there was no bar on MNAs and MPAs on visiting the constituencies but they could not announce any development schemes or make any such pledges. The ECP has been minutely observing the activities of political parties and their leaders so they do not influence the results of upcoming by-polls but the PTI skilfully dodged the poll body last week.
The PTI chairman addressed a rally in Multan prompting the polling authority to look into the matter. However, it was found that the party avoided the restrictions by selecting a venue outside the constituency going for by-elections.
The PTI chief’s Haripur visit was also considered a violation of the ECP’s code of conduct. But when Khan received the notices from the ECP, his party cancelled all his scheduled rallies in K-P.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2015.
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