The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday sought written response from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Lahore President Pervaiz Malik over allegations levelled by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that the ruling party was using state machinery in the NA-120 by-election campaign of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.
Malik has been told by the ECP to submit his reply within three days. He has also been warned to “refrain from such activities [participate or use state machinery in Kulsoom Nawaz’s campaign] and also advise other MPAs to stop such activities so that [NA-120] by-election is held in accordance with law”.
Faisal Mir, the PPP’s candidate for NA-120, had alleged that Malik and MNA Hamza Shahbaz, along with provincial ministers and MPAs, are using the chief minister’s office to run the NA-120 election campaign for Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. He claimed that the use of state machinery to influence elections was in violation of the ECP’s code of conduct and that the election watchdog must take notice of the issue.
Taking notice of Mir’s allegations, the ECP had on Monday directed the Punjab chief secretary and inspector general of police to take action against any violations of its code of conduct for elections under Article 204 of the Constitution read with 103(a) of the Representation of People Act, 1976.
The seat fell vacant after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court in the Panamagate case on July 28, on charges of concealing his salary from a Dubai-based company, which he claims he had never received.
ARMY TO BE DEPLOYED AT POLLING STATIONS:
Meanwhile, the Punjab ECP has submitted an application in the Punjab Home Department calling for the deployment of army troops at all polling stations in the constituency to ensure transparent polling. The ECP has also sought Rangers’ assistance in transporting election material to polling stations.