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PESHAWAR, Aug 15: District Returning Officer Nowshera on Monday issued warrant of arrest for Senior Minister NWFP Sirajul Haq for not appearing before the court. District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Saleem Khan Minakhel, who also holds powers of a DRO, had directed the senior minister on last Saturday to appear before the court in connection with an election complaint charging him with using government machinery and resources in favour of Al-Khidmat Group’s candidates.
A local candidate Niaz Mohammad has filed the complaint against the senior minister for violating the code of conduct by running election campaign for the candidates of Al Khaidmat group.
The complainant alleged that Mr Sirajul Haq, who is also provincial chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami, inaugurated development schemes in several union councils in the district and used Zakat funds to influence the election process.
The DRO concerned issued notices to the senior minister and other candidates fielded by Al Khidmat group to appear before the court on Monday. Other candidates appeared before the DRO but the minister could not turn up.
The counsel of Sirajul Haq stated that he was not properly informed about the DRO’s order. However, Mr Minakhel turned down his plea and issued bailable arrest warrants of Mr Haq.
Meanwhile, a returning officer in Dera Ismael Khan has issued notices to Maulana Ataur Rehman, MNA, and Maulana Lutfur Rehman, MPA, the two brothers of Leader of the Opposition, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, who have been accused by a candidate of using government resources in favour of their candidates.
The RO, Mirza Kashif, who is a civil judge, has ordered that both the leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal appear in person on Aug 16 (Tuesday).
The order was issued in an inquiry ordered by the district returning officer on a complaint filed by Arif Kundi, a candidate of union council Ratha Kulachi, stating that the two had been violating the code of conduct set for the elections.
The RO had earlier ordered them to appear on Monday. However, due to public holiday on Sunday, the summons could not be served on the two leaders. They have now been summoned for the next day.
GOVERNOR: NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman has expressed concern over frequent interference by certain provincial ministers in the local government election.
Talking to journalists during his visit to Cantonment area, Mr Khalil said he would take action if the provincial ministers continued violations of the code of conduct.
“I will discuss the matter with Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani before taking any action,” he remarked. He did not say what action he had in mind.
“Everybody knows the situation and even the court has taken notice of the violations of the code of conduct by some ministers,” he said.
ELECTION COMMISSION: The provincial Election Commission has requested the NWFP government to provide 650 additional female staff for conducting the first phase of local body polls in 12 districts on Aug 18.
An official said the commission had sent a letter to the chief secretary and requested for the provision of female staff on an emergency basis to overcome shortage of staff.
