PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday summoned the Peshawar Development Authority director-general today (Wednesday) to clarify his position about media reports and social media videos showing the use of the civic agency’s machinery for fixing flags of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to electric poles and making other arrangements for the public meeting of former prime minister Imran Khan in the capital city.

The ECP district monitoring officer for NA-31 Peshawar constituency, Shahabuddin, issued a notice to the PDA chief asking him to appear before him at 11am on Wednesday for the purpose.

It warned that the DG’s failure to comply with orders could lead to ex parte proceedings against him under the relevant provisions of the law and that the matter will be referred to the ECP, Islamabad, for further action.

A day ago, a video went viral on social media showing a PDA truck mounted hydraulic hoist being used for attaching the PTI flags to poles.

Civic agency’s DG suspends three officials for fixing PTI flags for Imran rally

In the notice, the DMO said it had come to his notice through media and reports of monitoring team that state resources including heavy machinery by PDA had been extensively used for affixing flags and making necessary arrangements for the scheduled public meeting of PTI candidate Imran Khan.

He said those acts violated the code of conducted formulated for the by-elections for which polling will be held on Sept 25.

The relevant para of the code of conduct states: “The executive authorities in the federation and in the provinces and elected representatives of a local government shall neither use state resources in any constituency where election is being held for unfair advantage of a particular candidate or political party nor exercise undue influence affecting the interest of a candidate or party for participating in any election.”

Meanwhile, the PDA director-general on Tuesday suspended two firemen and a gardener on the matter and ordered an inquiry against them.

An office order was issued on Tuesday declaring that firemen Abdul Qayyum and Kachkul Khan and gardener Owais Ali Shah had been suspended over viral videos about a violation of the ECP’s code of conduct.

The DG appointed PDA project director (New Peshawar Valley) Adil Ayub as the inquiry officer for the alleged misconduct of those officials.

He said after the issuance of charge sheet and statement of allegations on three staff members and providing them with an opportunity of hearing, the inquiry officer should furnish his findings and recommendations within a fortnight.

Moreover, district election commissioner for NA-22 Mardan Falak Naz issued a notice to chairman of the Katlang tehsil council Hamadullah for addressing the Pakistan Democratic Movement workers in different places as part of the election campaign of a Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl candidate.

He asked the council chairman to appear before him in person or through a counsel on Sept 8 and clarify his position.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2022