LAHORE: Punjab Election Commissioner Sharifullah on Thursday said notices had been served on Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Huzaifa Rehman for allegedly violating the code of conduct of the Election Act 2017.
A spokesperson for the provincial election commissioner said the federal minister and the SAPM were directed to submit their explanations by November 21 (today).
“No minister or advisor can run an election campaign,” the spokesperson said, warning that swift action will be taken against any violation of the code to ensure free, fair and impartial elections.
By-elections to six national and seven provincial assembly seats in Punjab are scheduled for November 23.
According to Dera Ghazi Khan District Supervision Officer, Leghari had allegedly participated in the election campaign of PML-N candidate Mahmood Leghari in NA-185 constituency.
The supervisor claimed that Leghari, by participating in the campaign as a federal minister, violated official instructions. The minister has been asked to appear before the authorities and clarify his position regarding the alleged violations of the SAP.
The monitoring officer further said that SAPM Rehman has been violating the electoral code of conduct. The official said that the SAPM intends to participate in the election campaign of the PML-N candidate.
Meanwhile, Faisalabad district monitoring officer wrote to the election commission, alleging that Minister of State for Home Affairs Talal Chaudhry had been repeatedly violating the electoral code of conduct.
The monitoring officer told the election watchdog that the State Minister had been warned over the phone about his conduct but failed to comply with the ECP’s code of conduct despite two previous warnings.
The state minister was fined Rs 50,000 for violating the ECP’s code of conduct, the official said, adding that the matter was being referred to the electoral body for “further action”.
It is pertinent to mention here that by-election campaigns for 13 National and Provincial Assembly constituencies of Punjab will officially conclude at midnight on November 21.
Preparations have almost been completed to hold by-elections in six national and seven provincial constituencies in Punjab on November 23.
The ECP warned that candidates who continue to participate in political activities after this deadline will face legal consequences.
The ECP warned that those who violate these regulations could be subject to penalties such as imprisonment for a maximum of two years, a fine of up to Rs 100,000, or both.
The National Assembly constituencies included NA-18 Haripur, NA-96 Faisalabad-Il, NA-104 Faisalabad-X, NA-129 Lahore-XIll, NA-143 Sahiwal-IlI, NA-185 DG Khan-ll, PP-73 Sargodha-llI, PP-87 Mianwali-lII, PP-98 Faisalabad-I, PP-115 Faisalabad-XVIll, PP-116 Faisalabad-XIX, PP-203 Sahiwal-VI and PP-269 Muzaffargarh-ll.
