The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday disqualified Umar Amin Gandapur, brother of federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur, from contesting local body elections for repeated violations of the model code of conduct despite warnings.
A three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja delivered the verdict, which barred Umar from running for the post of mayor for Dera Ismail Khan in the upcoming second phase of local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Ali, who is the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, was also barred from addressing any gathering or participating in any political activity in the district. The ECP Bench said that Ali would be allowed to attend domestic gatherings of a personal nature only at Dera Ismail Khan.
The ECP had last week directed the Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ‘Forcibly’ expelled District ministers after repeated violations of the code of conduct announced by the commission for local government elections in the province.
The ECP had taken cognizance of the violations in a meeting on January 28. Summoned On February 1, the minister should explain his position. It was noted that on 5 December, the minister had violated the election code of conduct by participating in a campaign and announcing development plans in the area.
Later, the ECP Fined 50,000 on Ali. On December 15, the PTI MLA again addressed a public meeting in Dera Ismail Khan.