ECP issues notices to Imran, others for addressing Lodhran meeting

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued notices to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and others over code of conduct violation regarding by-poll in NA-154, Lodhran-I.

The Election Commission issued notices to Imran, other party leaders, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Awami Muslim League leader Shiekh Rashid Ahmad, for speaking at a public meeting in the constituency, which is seen as a violation of the code.

The ECP has set February 11 as the deadline for them to submit a response in this connection. It is pertinent that voters in this constituency will cast their vote on February 12.

The seat had fallen vacant, following the disqualification of PTI’s MNA Jehangir Khan Tareen last year. And his son was given ticket to contest the bye-election, which was criticised by senior lawyer and PTI’s member Naeem Bokhari.

On late night Friday, the Election Commission also issued a notice to PTI candidate Ali Tareen, who has been asked to appear before the district election commissioner, either in person or through a counsel, on February 11.

Imran, Qureshi, Sheikh Rashid and Murad Saaed addressed the rally on Friday in violation of rules, said the Election Commission notice and that the address by the members of the National Assembly was a blatant violation of the code of conduct. According to the rules, prime minister, ministers, advisers, MNAs and MPAs are barred from visiting the constituency after the issuance of the election schedule in a constituency.