LAHORE: The returning officer for NA-120 issued a notice to Minister for Commerce Pervez Malik on Wednesday on a complaint moved by Faisal Mir, the Pakistan Peoples Party’s candidate for the by-election in the constituency, accusing the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of using state machinery and violating the Election Commission of Pakistan’s code of conduct while campaigning for their candidate Kulsoom Nawaz.

Mr Mir in his complaint contended that federal and provincial ministers were not allowed to participate in any election campaign or visit the constituency under the ECP’s code of conduct and Section 103-A of the Representation of People’s Act 1976.

However, he said, Mr Malik had been regularly visiting the constituency and using state machinery to run Ms Nawaz’s campaign. He asked the returning officer to take action against the minister for violating the ECP’s code of conduct and to restrain him from visiting the constituency again.

After hearing the contention, RO Mohammad Shahid issued a notice to Mr Malik, directing him to submit his reply within three days.

Mr Malik is in charge of Ms Nawaz’s campaign for the by-election in NA-120 scheduled for Sept 17.

Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had raised objections to the ECP’s code of conduct that bars all public office-holders, including members of the national and provincial assemblies, from campaigning for their candidates.

The opposition party wants the ECP to allow its parliamentarians to take part in the election campaign but continue to bar legislators belonging to the ruling PML-N.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2017