Rules are meant to be broken, Khan shows

PTI chief holds public rally in federal capital in stark violation of ECP code of conduct barring MNAs and party leaders from participating in election campaigns

ECP says PTI’s rally a blatant violation of code of conduct

Sources say police preparing to book Khan for violating Section 144

Despite warnings from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that holding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rally in the federal capital would be a blatant violation of ECP’s code of conduct, PTI Chairman Imran Khan went ahead with the rally, even as police prepared to book him for violation of Section 144.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid also slammed Khan for causing massive gridlock and for flouting ECP’s code of conduct.

None of that, however, mattered to the PTI supporters who turned up in huge numbers to participate in the rally ahead of the local government elections in the federal capital on November 30.

The ECP on Friday declared that Khan’s rally in Islamabad would be a violation of the code of conduct issued on October 19 under which, party leaders, ministers, or MNAs cannot take part in rallies and processions for local bodies (LB) elections.

Khan, however, denounced the fact that he wasn’t allowed to campaign for LG elections as a party chairman.

As for causing gridlock in the city, he slammed government for putting restrictions on his campaign and said that the rulers had put barricades in the capital city and he had had to take a route through farm fields to reach the campaign venue.

“I especially thank my female supporters who reached the jalsa site despite the barricades,” he said.

“If we have democracy in our country, is it not my right to come to my people and talk to them?” he questioned.

He said that while the prime minister could go to Lodhran and give a package of Rs 2.5 billion because of the upcoming elections, he was not allowed to get involved in political campaigns.

“Give me example of any democracy where a party chairman is not allowed to address a gathering?”

While the PTI has announced plans that it would be calling an All Parties Conference after the third phase of the election to unite in opposition to the PML-N, it was obvious that it did not change the way the PTI chairman viewed the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership. Khan said that the PPP co-chairperson Asif Zardari was involved in embezzlement of Rs 6 billion belonging to the people of Pakistan.

“It was your [Pakistanis] money that he has escaped with. I ask how many people came out of their homes to protest against this?” Khan said, during the rally.

The PTI chairman said that it was due to growing corruption that Pakistanis were now under massive debt.

Khan blasted govt’s economic policies and said, “During the previous government, each Pakistani owed Rs 35,000 and now this amount has reached Rs 110,000.”

Concluding the speech, Khan said his party was not alone as the people stood beside him.

“When the next election comes, we will not even need to campaign. Our work in KP will speak for itself,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to reports, the district returning officer (DRO) took notice of Khan’s rally which, he said, was in violation of Section 144. The ECP may take notice of this violation. Also, sources said the Islamabad Police were preparing to book Khan and were already consulting with the ECP.

According to ECP’s code of conduct, candidates may only hold corner meetings in their areas after seeking permission from the authorities concerned. It further states that the prime minister, ministers as well as members of Parliament cannot take part in the election campaign directly or indirectly. It also bars ministers and members of Parliament from visiting any union council.