GUJRAT, Nov 3: Ministers and advisers have refused to respect the Election Commission of Pakistan’s code of conduct for the by-polls as they are visiting the areas falling under NA-107, Kharian/Sara-i-Alamgir constituency to make last-ditch efforts to gain maximum support.

The ECP code of conduct for the by-election to two national and four provincial assembly seats of Punjab bars the prime minister, the chief ministers, the federal and state ministers, the provincial ministers and advisers from visiting any area of any constituency after the issuance of the election schedule.

It further says: “The executive authorities in the federation as well as the province will not use state resources anywhere in Pakistan for unfair advantage of any contesting candidate or a political party during the election campaign.”

“No person in the service of Pakistan shall misuse his official position in any manner calculated to influence the results of an election, the transfers and postings of the civil servants including the police officers shall not be made in the respective districts of the by-elections during the election process and no person shall openly or secretly give any subscription or donation, or make promise for giving such benefits to any institution nor shall commit to undertake any development project for the advancement of the campaign of a candidate of his choice to influence the election results and in case of violation of any aforementioned directives, the CEC will take a legal action under section 103A of the Representation of the People’s Act relating to contempt proceedings,” explains the notification.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo had recently visited Sara-i-Alamgir, the main town of NA-107, and held a meeting with Rehman Naseer Marala, the candidate of the coalition partners (PML-Q and PPP). Also present were PPP’s Tanveer Ashraf Kaira and PML-Q MPA Chaudhry Muhammad Arshad and, according to sources, all of them discussed the election prospects and efforts to win the all-important seat.

Mr Wattoo has close ties with Chaudhry Arshad and his family for more than two decades as Arshad’s elder brother, the late Chaudhry Muhammad Farooq, was a law minister in the Punjab cabinet when Mr Wattoo was the chief minister from 1993 to 1995.

On the other hand, Senior Adviser to CM Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa had spent a hectic time during the last couple of days here.

Sources said Mr Khosa had also visited Kotla Arab Ali Khan, the second major town of the constituency, and held meetings with the local party men.

Deputy Prime Minister Pervaiz Elahi had participated in a reception at a restaurant on GT Road (near Sara-i-Alamgir), where independent candidate Raja Abid Malagar (who played the host) announced withdrawal of his candidature in favour of PML-Q nominee Rehman Naseer Marala. The reception was held after the ECP announced the by-election schedule.

Former Gujrat district nazim Chaudhry Shafaat Husain during a news conference at his residence had blamed the Punjab government for utilising the state machinery and alleged that Deputy Secretary Shahid Iqbal had been stationed in the District Council rest house to monitor the election campaign.

Violating the ban, Zulfiqar Khosa is allegedly active in the constituency and exploiting the official protocol to influence the election campaign.

Chaudhry Shafaat said the PML-Q would approach the ECP and other relevant forums to lodge its complaint in this regard. He said the PML-N would not be able to ‘conquer’ Gujrat despite use of state machinery.

NA-107 is the main political battlefield, where a tough fight is expected between PML-Q’s Rehman Naseer Marala and PML-N’s Malik Hanif Awan. Gujrat is home district of federal ministers Pervaiz Elahi, Wajahat Hussain, Ahmad Mukhtar and Qamar Zaman Kaira. No PML-N legislator belonging to Gujrat holds any ministerial portfolio in Punjab.

Political analysts see it as a direct contest between the Chaudhries of Gujrat and the Sharifs, saying the ECP must be cautious in this particular constituency because of its significance.

Sources said the chief election commissioner might go for harsh measures against the violators to set an example for other constituencies. The CEC, they said, had constituted 20 teams to keep an eye on the election activities and report violations.