PESHAWAR/BAJAUR: The Election Commission of Pakistan’s district monitoring officers in Bajuar, Tank and Swabi on Tuesday issued notices to two ministers and two lawmakers for violating code of conduct for the upcoming local bodies’ polls.

The notices were served on Federal Minister for Safran Ali Amin Khan, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Anwarzeb Khan, ANP MNA Ameer Haider Khan and PTI MPA Ajmal Khan.

The Tank DMO, Mohammad Bilal, issued notice to Ali Amin Khan for violating code of conduct and directed him to appear in person on December 16 or through counsel to explain his position for violating the code of conduct by addressing a public meeting as part of the election campaign. The DMO has already a fine of Rs50,000 on Ali Amin Khan on December 9 for violating code of conduct.

The Swabi DMO, Sadar Mazhar Hussain, issued notice to ANP MNA Ameer Haider Khan for participating and addressing a public meeting in connection with the upcoming local government elections.

The DMO has directed the ANP leader to appear before him on December 17 in person or through counsel to explain his position for violating the code of conduct.

The Charsadda DMO, Shabbar Abbas Bukhari, issued warnings to Provincial Minister Kamran Bangash and PTI MNA Fazal Mohammad Khan to follow code of conduct and refrain from any violation.

Mr Bangash was issued notice after he inaugurated an IT laboratory and solarisation system at a college in Shabqadar, which was violation of code of conduct.

Advocate FurqanYousafzai appeared for Mr Bangash and stated that the act of his client was not a deliberate effort to violate the code of conduct. He assured the DMO that he would follow all the provisions of the code of conduct.

Similarly, the DMO issued notice to Fazal Mohammad on complaint of an ANP candidate, Taimur Khattak, who alleged that the MNA was using government resources and Rashan Card scheme in the election campaign.

The Bajuar DMO, Fazal Hakeem Khan, issued notices to Provincial Minister Anwarzeb Khan and PTI MPA Ajmal Khan. He directed them to appear in persons on December 15 to explain their positions regarding the violation of the election code of conduct.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2021