PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday took notice of repeated violations of the local bodies elections’ code of conduct by federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur.

In a statement issued after an ECP meeting on Friday, the commission directed the authority concerned to immediately issue a notice to the minister for appearing before the commission on Feb 1.

The meeting was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan and attended by the ECP secretary, senior officials and other members.

The meeting was informed that the minister’s brother, Umar Amin Gandapur, was a candidate for Dera Ismail Khan mayor’s slot for the upcoming local government polls scheduled for Feb 13.

On Dec 5, the minister violated the election code by participating in a campaign and announcing development schemes in the area, the meeting noted. Later, the ECP slapped a fine of Rs50,000 on Mr Ali for the violation.

On Dec 15, the minister again addressed a public rally in Dera Ismail Khan.

The statement said that it had come to ECP’s notice that the minister was still violating the election code and that the commission had received a complaint in this regard.

In view of these violations, the ECP set Feb 1 as the date for hearing of this case and issued notices to the minister and his brother.

Meanwhile, sources in the ECP’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa office told Dawn that the provincial election commissioner, Muhammad Razaq, rushed to Dera Ismail Khan on the directives of the chief election commissioner to handle the situation.

Mr Razaq will hold meetings with the district administration, the district returning officer and other officials to ensure that the election code is implemented properly.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2022