ATTOCK, Sept 28: The returning officer, Nasir Sohail, on Saturday stopped the district Nazim, Tehsil Nazim and other UC Nazimeen from attending and addressing the election meetings of any candidate.

The returning officer, in his short order, said it was the talk of the town and there was nothing wrong in this fact that the district Nazim and Tehsil Nazim Attock had been addressing the public meetings and running campaigns of certain candidates.

He said the government of Pakistan and the Election Commission were bent upon to ensure fair and transparent elections at any costs and the EC time and again had clarified through electronic media and press that the Nazimeen and Naib Nazimeen etc of the district and Tehsil or any constituencies were prohibited to involve themselves in the electioneering.

The chief election commissioner has also clarified that in case of violation of law, penal provisions will play their role as mentioned in the Representation of People’s Act, 1976. In this regard, separate report is also being sent to the Election Commission by the returning officer.

This stay order was granted by the returning officer on the application, filed by two PPP candidates Shiekh Ehsanuddin (NA-57) and Malik Shahan through their council Sheikh Kamran in which they had alleged that the district Nazim, Attock, Major Tahir Sadiq Khan (retired) and Tehsil Nazim Attock Qazi Khalid Mehmood were interfering in the process of law.

The applicants presented newspapers, showing the district Nazim and the Tehsil Nazim addressing the public meetings pertaining to the elections and brief of their addresses.

The district Nazim, Major Tahir Sadiq Khan (retired), appeared before the court and said he had to visit different parts of the area in connection with his official duties and had nothing to do with the election campaigns. He said that he was aware of his responsibilities and obligations and he would never indulge in campaign or made any speech in violation of any legal provisions.

The Tehsil Nazim, Qazi Khalid Mehmood, also appeared before the court and stated that the application had been submitted on wrong facts.