KHAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan has served show-cause notices to three poll candidates for violating its code of conduct during the election campaign in Bajaur region, sources told Dawn on Saturday.

They said the notices had been issued in light of the complaints received by the members of the monitoring teams.

The notices to the candidates were issued on Friday, asking them to appear before the returning officers on Monday to clear their positions, the sources said, adding action would be taken against those who couldn’t appear in the returning officers’ offices by the deadline.

Assistant Election Commissioner, Bajaur, Pervez Iqbal, when contacted confirmed to Dawn the issuance of the show-cause notices to the candidates for violation of code of conduct.

He said former KP governor and independent candidate from NA-40 Engr Shaukatullah Khan, PML-N former lawmaker and independent candidate from NA-41 Shahabuddin Khan and PTI nominee for NA- 41 Gul Zafar Khan had been issued the notices.

However, the official did not divulge the nature of violation of code by the candidates.

Mr Iqbal said the ECP was determined to conduct free and fair elections in the region.

NO INTERNET SERVICE: The residents of different parts of Khar tehsil on Saturday complained about suspension of internet service for last one week.

Talking to Dawn, they said PTCL broadband facility had been suspended owing to unknown reasons.

Zahid Shah, a resident of Sadiqabad, said his internet connection had been disconnected for last one week, affecting his routine activities.

He said he had contacted the local PTCL officials about the issue, but to no avail.

Hamid Khan, a dweller of Inayat Kallay, accused the PTCL officials of not informing the users about the causes of suspension of internet facility.

Some people said the internet service was disconnected following a technical fault at PCL exchange in Khar.

Meanwhile, a PTCL official said the broadband service in the region was suspended after a fibre optic line was damaged during the excavation work by the company’s technical team in Sadiqabad area a week ago.

He said hundreds of internet users had been affected, adding efforts were underway to fix the line immediately.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2018