LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday conditionally allowed parliamentarians and heads of political parties to take part in election campaign of their respective candidates in by-polls being held in different constituencies.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, however, ruled the parliamentarians would not be allowed to make announcements in the election meetings about government’s development projects or other schemes.

The judge passed this order on a petition filed by a Punjab Assembly member of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Mansoor Sarwar, against the by-election code of conduct.

Election Commissioner of Punjab Zafar Iqbal also attended the Monday’s hearing.

The petitioner had stated the ECP barred president, prime minister, ministers and heads of the parties from participating in election campaign of their respective candidates contesting by-polls. He pleaded the restriction imposed by the commission was in violation of fundamental rights.

On previous hearing a deputy attorney general had told the court that the code of conduct was formulated in consultation with political parties to keep the election process impartial and peaceful.

After hearing the parties, Justice Shah observed that restricting the parliamentarians from joining election campaign was not fair. He ruled that the parliamentarians and parties’ heads could participate in the election meetings of their candidates, but would not announce any development project or schemes on such occasions.

If parliamentarians were found announcing new projects during the election campaign, the ECP would be free to take action, the judge said.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2015

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