Haider files complaint with ECP over code ‘violation’

Published February 28, 2021
Taj Haider, who is in charge of the PPP’s election cell, drew attention of the ECP to the reports according to which the governor chaired a meeting of the PTI candidates for the upcoming Senate elections. — Photo courtesy: Imran Ismail Twitter/File
Taj Haider, who is in charge of the PPP’s election cell, drew attention of the ECP to the reports according to which the governor chaired a meeting of the PTI candidates for the upcoming Senate elections. — Photo courtesy: Imran Ismail Twitter/File

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against Sindh Gover­nor Imran Ismail over alle­ged violation of the code of conduct for the Senate polls.

Taj Haider, who is in charge of the PPP’s election cell, drew attention of the ECP to the reports according to which the governor chaired a meeting of the PTI candidates for the upcoming Senate elections, PTI members of the Sindh Assembly and PTI coalition partners in the federal government. The letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner stated a strategy for the success of PTI candidates was evolved at the meeting held at Sindh Governor House.

The complaint has been filed a day after the ECP issued a code of conduct for the Senate elections, barring the president and the governors from taking part in the campaign for the polls in any manner whatsoever.

The complaint also referred to a statement of the PTI provincial advisory council, published in newspapers, criticising the governor on his choice of the PTI candidates for the Senate. The statement also deman­ded the governor’s removal.

“While the choice of PTI candidates is none of our concern, the statement confirms that the choice of candidates, right or wrong, was made by the governor [of] Sindh,” it added. According to the letter, this is a gross violation of Rule (v) of the ECP’s code of conduct that states: “The President and the Governors of the Provinces shall not take part in election campaign relating to election to the Senate in any manner whatsoever and shall not use their respective offices as well as houses in connection therewith.”

“It has become prima facie clear that the Honourable Governor has used not only his position as a Governor to intervene and influence over the process of free and fair elections but has also used the premises of the Governor House Karachi for the purpose of canvassing and electioneering. This blatant violation of the rules of the Code of Conduct becomes all the more alarming in the background of the presence of PTI representative in the consultative meeting on the Code of Conduct of 22nd February 2021 chaired by your Honour,” the letter read.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.