The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday barred Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan from addressing rallies in areas falling under NA-63 Jhelum-II, a National Assembly constituency set to go to by-polls on August 31.
The NA-63 Jhelum-II seat was vacated after the death of MNA Nawabzada Iqbal Mehdi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
“Your attention is invited to the code of conduct and directives issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan which clearly bars visits of sitting members of national and provincial assemblies’ where election schedule has been announced,” the PTI chief was informed in a letter authored by Khursheed Alam, the election commissioner for Jhelum district.
“As per reports, you are going to address several rallies on August 24 in Khewra, Dharyala Jalap, Pinawai, Jalalpur Sharif of Tehsil Pind Dadan Khan along with several other members of national assembly and provincial assemblies,” the ECP letter detailed.
The ECP official directed the PTI chief to abide by the code of conduct, issuing a warning that “the ECP can proceed against you under Constitution’s Article-204 and Section-78 of the Representation of Peoples Act in case you do not abide the code of conduct”.
The ECP had on Monday issued a show cause notice to PML-N leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif for campaigning in NA-63, declaring his visit to the area as “violation” of the code of conduct. Hamza has been asked to submit a written reply.
Per ECP directives, the prime minister, chief ministers, federal ministers, advisers to the prime minister and the president, members of the national or provincial assemblies or any person on their behalf shall not visit the “constituency” or a polling station after the issuance of schedule of by-election till completion of the polls.
