LAHORE: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a notice to Punjab Minister for Housing Mahmoodur Rasheed for taking part in electioneering for a ruling PTI’s candidate for PP-51, Gujranwala.

The notice, issued on Friday by District Monitoring Officer Ibrar Ahmad Jatoi, says the minister had violated Section-182 of the Election Act, 2017 that prohibits public meetings during certain periods (48 hours before the polling day).

It said that the minister had taken part in the election campaign of PTI nominee Muhammad Yousif on the polling day.

Mr Rasheed has been directed to submit a written reply to the notice within two days.

The ECP had earlier fined National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, Punjab Minister Ijaz Alam Augustine and eight other parliamentarians, belonging to both the treasury and opposition benches.

Meanwhile, the ECP clarifies that the candidates for two seats for technocrats and women each of Senate reserved from Punjab cannot be yet declared as elected unopposed because the aspirants whose papers were rejected may challenge decision of the returning officer before the appellate authority up till Feb 20 (today) while any nominee may withdraw one’s candidatures on May 25.

Therefore, says a press release, declaring any candidate as elected unopposed is illegal until the election process completes.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021