The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday issued a notice to PML-N's Pervaiz Malik, demanding a written response to Pakistan People's Party's (PPP) allegations that the ruling party was using state machinery in Begum Kulsoom Nawaz's campaign for NA-120 by-polls.

The notice told Malik to submit his reply within three days and warned him to "refrain from such activities [participate or use state machinery in Mrs Nawaz's campaign] and also advise other MPAs to stop such activities so that [NA-120] by-election is held in accordance with law".

Faisal Mir, PPP's nominee for NA-120, had alleged on Sunday that “Malik and MNA Hamza Shahbaz, along with provincial ministers and MPs, are using the chief minister’s office to run [the NA-120] election campaign for Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.”

Mir claimed that the usage of state machinery to influence elections was a violation of ECP's code of conduct and that the election body must take notice of the issue.

The ECP, taking notice of Mir's allegations, had issued directions on Monday to the provincial chief secretary and Punjab’s inspector general of police to take action against any violations of its code of conduct for elections under Article 204 of the Constitution read with 103(a) of the Representation of People Act, 1976.