ECP fines Naeem for violating LG by-polls code of conduct

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has imposed a fine on Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman for violating the code of conduct for the upcoming local government by-elections to be held in Sindh.

The ECP had earlier issued a show-cause notice to Rehman for participating in an event held to conduct the aptitude test for the Bano Qabil mass IT education programme in Karachi’s Gulberg Town.

According to the JI chief’s lawyer, Saifuddin Advocate, a response had been submitted to the ECP the previous day informing them that the Bano Qabil programme was apolitical in nature and was being conducted all over Pakistan.

He said Bano Qabil had nothing to do with electioneering and the local government by-polls in the province. He lamented the issuance of the show-cause notice by the ECP. The district monitoring officer for the by-polls evaluated the response submitted on behalf of the JI chief, and decided to impose a fine of Rs10,000. A fine of Rs10,000 each has also been imposed on the chairman of Gulberg Town and the chairman of the area union committee.

The show-cause notice issued to the JI chief mentioned that large gatherings and public events cannot be held in Gulberg Town ahead of the local government by-polls, and that the aptitude test held for Bano Qabil on November 1 violated the code of conduct for the by-polls.