Peshawar: Peshawar and Bannu district monitoring officers of the Provincial Election Commission on Friday fined several Treasury and opposition MPs, including Pakistan People’s Party President Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, of Rs 50,000 each for violating the code of conduct. fined. For the upcoming local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Peshawar DMO Saeed Ahmed Khan, who is also the regional election commissioner of Peshawar division, fined Sindh’s PPP leaders, including Bilawal, Murad Ali Shah, MNAs Khurshid Shah and Qadir Patel, and provincial ministers Saeed Ghani and Nisar Ahmed Khuhro. . Addressing a rally in the provincial capital on November 30.
Bannu DMO Inayatullah Khan Wazir, who is also the regional election commissioner of Bannu Division, also called on Provincial Transport Minister Malik Shah Mohammad Khan Wazir, JUI-F MNA Zahid Khan Durrani, PPP MPA Sher Azam Khan Wazir and PTI MPA Malik Pakhtoon Yar Khan. Fined. In the election campaign of the candidates of their respective parties in the district.
In its order regarding Bilawal, Peshawar DMO said senior advocate Abdul Rauf Rohela appeared for the PPP leader but did not present his power of attorney to appear and sought permission to do so on the next hearing. The request was rejected.
PEC official issues notice to opposition leader Durrani
The DMO said that in the previous hearing on December 3, the counsel in question was given time to reply to the notice on violation of the code of conduct and to present Bilawal’s power of attorney, but he failed.
“Various opportunities were provided to the respondent vide notice dated November 30, 2021 to explain his position for contravention of section 30 of the Code of Conduct issued by the ECP, however, the respondent failed to avail such opportunities, Therefore, the undersigned is left with no option but to impose a fine of an amount of Rs 50,000 on the respondent Mr. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in pursuance of sub-section (3) of section-234 of the Election Act, 2017,” he said. said in the order.
Accordingly, in the event of failure to deposit the fine imposed, the matter shall be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan under section 234(4) of the Election Act, 2017.
In its order, the Bannu DMO declared that four KP MPs, including Malik Shah Mohammad Wazir, Zahid Durrani, Sher Azam Wazir and Pakhtoon Yar Khan, have violated the above code of conduct.
He said notices were issued to all of them to appear before him, but no one complied.
“Both of you Zahid Khan Durrani and Malik Shah Mohd Khan Wazir had promised to be present in the office of DMO Bannu but did not bother to appear in person and continued to violate the code of conduct in daily routine and all the forum holders including General public. Bannu district is shocked by the violation by the responsible elected representatives of the public, which has never ended,” read the DMO order.
He warned the MPs that if they were found guilty of violating the Election Act, 2017 and the rules made thereunder for the second time, the matter would be referred to the ECP for action under Section 234(4) of that Act, Including disqualification.
The DMO also issued notice to the Leader of Opposition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani, for violating the LG election code of conduct.
His order also read: “The activities which are not permitted under the law by the AAP representatives have given a bad impression to the entire public of Bannu district which is against the basic spirit of the law and concern has been shown by all the concerned quarters.” Which is required to take action under the code of conduct.”
According to the election code of conduct, after the election schedule is released, the President, the Prime Minister, the Governor, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker of any Legislative Assembly, the President and Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Federal and Provincial Ministers, Advisor to the Prime Minister or Head of Minister or Public Office. No other holder shall visit the area of any local council for announcing any development plan or campaigning or campaigning for any candidate or any political party.
“If a person is a resident of the district where elections are being held, he may visit the district, however, shall not take part in any kind of political activity.”
Published in Dawn, December 11, 2021