Chakwal by-polls: Election Act 2017 axe falls on PML-N candidate

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Tuesday punished the ruling PML-N candidate in PP-20 Chakwal by-election, invoking Elections Act, 2017 for the first time since its legislation.

PML-N candidate Chaudhry Sultan Haider was fined Rs50,000 for violation of the code of conduct. The penalty was imposed under Section 234 (3) of the Elections Act, 2017. The commission announced late Tuesday afternoon that under Article 218 of the Constitution it was its responsibility to ensure fair, just and impartial elections. It recalled that the code of conduct was prepared in consultation with the contesting parties after which every candidate and political party was bound to adhere to it. The code was announced in November and on December 7 the parties and their candidates had, in a meeting, agreed to fully abide by it.

The district monitoring officer sent a report with evidence to the district returning officer (DRO) on January 4 stating that MNA Hamza Shahbaz, Major (R) Tahir Iqbal MNA, Zulfiqar Ali Khan MPA and Vice-Chairman District Council, Chakwal Khurshid Baig addressed a public meeting in the presence of PML-N candidate, which was a flagrant violation of the code, the commission said. Upon this, the district returning officer (DRO) sought an explanation from Sultan Haider on January 6. Haider’s counsel appeared before the DRO but he could not satisfy his questioning.

The matter was then referred to the district monitoring officer for further action, who summoned the PML-N candidate on January 8.

On the basis of evidence, the district returning officer fined the candidate Rs50,000.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has condemned the violation of code of conduct by ex-PM Nawaz Sharif during the by-election.

The PTI questioned the silence of ECP over the gross violations.

PTI Spokesperson Fawad Choudhry lashed out at the ECP for turning a blind eye to the violations of code of conduct He said campaigning before 48 hours prior to the electoral process was a breach of the code.

He said the ECP had no objection to this violation by the 'darling', while on the other hand PTI Chairman Imran Khan got notices every time over frivolous complaints. He asked the commission to take immediate action on the plea of the PTI candidate.