PESHAWAR: The district monitoring officer of Kurram on Wednesday issued notice to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan for allegedly violating the code of conduct during the ongoing campaign for by-elections on the National Assembly seat, NA-45.

DMO Abdul Rauf Khan directed Imran Khan to appear before him today (Thursday) in his office either in person or through counsel to explain as to why necessary action under the law should not be taken against him by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Former prime minister Imran Khan is one of the candidates contesting the by-elections on NA-45 Kurram for which polling would be held on October 30.

“It has come into the notice of the undersigned (DMO) that you, Mr Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, contesting candidate NA-45 Kurram-I, have solicited and utilised the services/assistance from a public office holder namely Mohammad Iqbal Wazir, the minister for relief, rehabilitation and settlement, during the ongoing campaign activities and electioneering process which is tantamount to violation of para-8 of the code of conduct published by ECP,” states the notice issued to PTI chief.

DMO directs police to expel PTI minister from Kurram where by-elections are being held

Para 30 of the code of conduct reads: “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.”

The DMO has directed the district police officer of Kurram to expel the provincial minister, Mohammad Iqbal Wazir, forthwith from the boundaries of NA-45 constituency and the fact might be confirmed to him within two hours.

The ECP’s letter directed to the DPO states that it has once again been come into the knowledge through reliable sources that the minister is repeatedly involved in electioneering for PTI candidate and this action is clear violation of para-17 of the code of conduct.

In reply to the DMO directions, the DPO Kurran informed him that he visited different areas of NA-45 but the minister was not found anywhere in the limits of the constituency.

The DPO stated in the letter that he also directed the chief of the district security branch and special branch staff to inform him if the minister was found or involved in election campaign in NA-45 jurisdiction.

He clarified that as per reports, the minister was present in NA-46 constituency of Parachinar in Upper Kurram while the elections were being held in NA-45.

Candidates for by-elections on NA-45 Kurram include Imran Khan, Jamil Khan of JUI-F, Sher Mohammad Khan of JI, former MNA Fakhar Zaman, who is covering candidate for Mr Imran, and independent contestants Mohammad Zahir Shah, Sarfaraz Khan, Abdul Khaliq, Shah Nawaz Khan, Khalilur Rehman, Abdul Qadir, Mohammad Shoaib, Sadiq Khan, Jahanzeb, Niaz Badshah, Eid Gul Mengal and Saifullah Khan.

A total of 198,618 voters including 111,349 men and 87,269 women will exercise their right to vote in this constituency. ECP will set up a total of 152 polling stations including 26 each for men and women and 90 combined stations for the by-polls in the constituency.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2022