The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday served notices to leaders of the ruling PML-N and PTI for spearheading their respective political campaigns before the by-polls in the NA-120 constituency, terming it a violation of the commission's code of conduct.

State Minister for Interior Affairs Talal Chaudhry, Senator Pervez Rasheed, MNAs Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Maiza Hameed and Rukhsana Kokab, and MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar were served notices for campaigning for PML-N candidate Kulsoom Nawaz in violation of the code.

PTI lawmakers Mehmood Rasheed and Sadia Sohail Rana were also served notices by the ECP.

According to the ECP's code of conduct, members of the national and provincial assemblies are barred from engaging in political activities in the NA-120 constituency ahead of the by-poll.

"The ECP has prohibited members of the national assembly from campaigning for the by-election," the notifications read.

The commission asked all the lawmakers to appear before the commission on September 20.

The ECP also summoned the Punjab chief secretary to appear before it on September 20 for a hearing into the violation of its code of conduct.

The ECP reminded the chief secretary that he had been summoned earlier this month for the hearing as political activities have continued in NA-120 despite the ECP's prohibition.

The chief secretary has been asked to appear before the commission in this regard.