PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan has asked National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to explain his position about an alleged violation of its code of conduct for the upcoming local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a notice, Swabi district election commissioner Sardar Mazhar Hussain, who also holds the office of the district monitoring officer, directed the National Assembly speaker to appear before him or send in his counsel for the purpose on Dec 13.

“It has come to the knowledge of the undersigned through reliable sources and electronic media that there is an audio [clip] of yours wherein you have not only appealing the voters in the form of development projects but also been promising your party contesting candidates of your party funding by saying that multi-million [rupees] project tenders are in the process and soon these tenders will be notified,” read the notice.

Issues notices to PTI, ANP lawmakers from Peshawar

It added that in case of non-compliance, the matter would be referred to the ECP for necessary action against the NA speaker under Section 234(4) of the Elections Act, 2017.

Under the law, the DMO is empowered to impose a maximum fine of Rs50,000 over the violation of the election code of conduct.

In the audio clip, which has gone viral on social media, Asad Qaiser can allegedly be heard saying that tenders of development schemes to the tune of Rs2.5 billion would be released for Swabi district soon as work orders for them have already been approved.

Also, he allegedly told the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s local leaders and workers that winning the seat of the tehsil chairman was of utmost importance and if it was lost in the election, it would deal a big blow to the party in the region.

The NA speaker also purportedly said that he had Rs700 million funds on his disposal, which would be utilised in every union council of the district with the consent of PTI workers.

Also in the day, Peshawar regional election commissioner and DMO Saeed Ahmad Khan issued notices to local MNA Shaukat Ali of the ruling PTI and MPA Samar Haroon Bilour of the opposition Awami National Party for allegedly violating the LG election code of conduct by addressing rallies.

He directed the two to appear before them for explaining their respective positions on the matter on Dec 12 and Dec 13, respectively.

Meanwhile, Bannu regional election commissioner and DMO Inayatullah Khan Wazir accepted the reply submitted by leader of the opposition in the provincial assembly Akram Khan Durrani in response to a notice issued on the violation of the code of conduct.

He, however, warned Mr Durrani against making such violation in future.

Mr Durrani was put on notice for addressing election rallies in Kakki and Miryan tehsils of Bannu district to solicit votes for the Jamiat Ulema-Islam-Fazl candidates.

Advocate Syed Shahab Shah appeared for Mr Durrani and submitted written reply to the notice. He argued that it was not a deliberate attempt of his client to violate any provision of the Code of Conduct and the directions of the ECP and assured that he and his party would abide by the code and directions pertaining to the ongoing local government elections in the province in its letter and spirit.

He also submitted an affidavit on behalf of Mr Durrani.

The DMO observed that after examining and analysing the statement and affidavit and hearing arguments of the counsel, while accepting the reply of Mr Durrani he issues warning to him to follow the Code of Conduct and other directions of the ECP during the election and refrain himself from any such violation in future.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2021