KARACHI: The district administration has issued a show-cause notice to Pakistan Peoples Party chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for violating the election commission’s code of conduct.

The young politician was also warned by the district administration that repetition of the violation of the code of conduct might lead to disqualification of his candidature.

They said that the PPP leader had taken out a procession in Lyari, from where he is contesting elections on a National Assembly seat, without informing the district administration and getting a no-objection certificate, which is a violation of the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The sources said that the procession had created a law and order situation and disruption to the public peace.

They said that the show-cause notice, which was issued by the deputy commissioner/district monitoring officer, South, Syed Salahuddin Ahmed, stated that “Section 41 of the code of conduct for general elections 2018 issued by the ECP states that the political parties and the candidates shall convey their schedule of public rallies/processions/public jalsas at least three days in advance.

“District/local administration shall be responsible for making appropriate security arrangements and regulating such public rallies/processions/jalsas in such a manner that equal opportunities were provided to those interested in holding public rallies/processions/public jalsas.

“Whereas, according to a report furnished by senior superintendent of police City district South Karachi, you led a rally in Lyari Town on July 1, 2018 without prior NOC/permission from the deputy commissioner which was in violation of the code of conduct. The rally encountered unanticipated resistance from locals at Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Road point and resultantly a law and order situation arose causing disruption in public peace.

“Such situation was only caused since district administration had no prior information about the rally. An NOC was required to be obtained from the district administration at least three days prior to the rally but the same was not done, causing precarious law and order situation. Whereas monitoring teams of Election Commission of Pakistan for PS 107 and 108 also conveyed such violation under section 41 of the Elections Code of Conduct.

“Therefore you are hereby required to submit the reply to this show-cause notice as to why violation was committed. The reply must reach this office by July 5. Also be informed repetition of such violation may lead to heavy fine followed by recommendation to the district returning officer for disqualification of your candidature to contest the elections,” reads the show-cause notice.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2018