Irfanullah Marwat earns ECP’s ire over firing during rally

A video of an incident of firing at a political gathering of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) candidate Irfanullah Khan Marwat in the Kashmir Colony area of Mehmoodabad police station remits has gone viral on social media, landing in hot water.

Persons seen shooting in the video have been identified as Abdul Rahim Khan Marwat, Muhammad Islamuddin and Sardar Sheraz Khan. Irfanullah Marwat, the candidate for PS-105 Karachi East, is now under investigation by the Election Commission for open aerial firing during an election gathering. The district monitoring officer has issued a notice to Marwat for violating the code of conduct under Section 17 and has given him two days to submit his response.

“The undersigned has received a complaint from the Election Commission of Pakistan that during the corner meeting of your party aerial firing was carried out to show off the power of your party and harass the opponents by showing aggressive attitude and threat to other contestant candidates.

“The following guidelines have already been communicated for abiding by in its letter and spirit. The para 17 of Code of conduct issued by the ECP, which reads that ‘all types of firing including aerial firing, use of crackers and other explosives at public meeting and at or near the polling stations by any person shall not be allowed. Violation will be treated as an illegal practice,” read a notice issued by Dr Mohsin Ali, district monitoring officer of Karachi East. “Keeping in view the gravity of situation on the basis of available evidence of viral video clip, you are hereby directed to reply in your defense that why further necessary action as an illegal practice may not be taken. The reply may reach within two days of receipt of this notice.”