PESHAWAR: The election commission has stopped the Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq from attending a public rally as its venue is within the constituency of NA-4, where a by-poll is scheduled for Oct 26.

The returning officer for the by-election in NA-4 Mohammad Ishaq Khan has directed the deputy commissioner Peshawar to stop the JI chief from attending the public rally arranged to be held in Jameel Chowk in connection with the by-election. It has come to the notice of the RO that Senator Sirajul Haq will be attending and addressing a public gathering at Jameel Chowk which is within the territorial limits of NA-4, according to a statement issued here.

The attendance and address of the very public gathering by senator will be a violation of the code of conduct of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

“In view of the foregoing it is hereby directed that the Senator Sirajul Haq be restrained from attending this very public gathering,” says the statement.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2017