PESHAWAR: The provincial election commissioner has asked the government to take disciplinary action against JUI-F chief Mualana Fazlur Rehman’s younger brother Ziaur Rehman, a government servant, for violating local bodies’ polls code of conduct.

Through an official letter, the provincial election commissioner, Mohammad Raziq, has asked Chief Secretary Dr Shehzad Bangash to initiate necessary disciplinary proceedings immediately under Section-24 of the Government Servants Efficiency and Disciplinary Rules, 1964 against the concerned officer (Ziaur Rehman) under intimation to this office for its onward submission to ECP.

“He has addressed political gathering arranged in Iqbal Marriage Hall, Zafarabad Colony in Dera Ismail Khan on February 3, as part of election campaign of JUI-F candidate Mohammad Kafeel Nizami,” says the letter.

Ziaur Rehman, a public servant, is accused of addressing political gathering in DI Khan

The letter states that being a public office holder (PMS officer/government servant), his participation in such political activities is sheer violation of section 187 of Election Act, 2017.

Section 187 of Election Act states: “A person in the service of Pakistan is guilty of violation of official duty in connecting with an election, if he misuses his official position in a manner calculated to influence the results of the elections.”

The provincial election commissioner has also mentioned the punishment in the letter for such violations. “The violation of the above provision of law is punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to two years, or with fine, which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees, or with both,” states the letter.

The provincial election commissioner has said in the letter that the participation of the officer concerned is also a violation of Para-25 of the code of conduct and the directions of ECP contained in Para-2(IV) of ECP, Islamabad’s notification No.F.16(1)/2021-LGE-KP issued on January 3.

He has said that the participation of Ziaur Rehman in the electioneering is also the violation of section-24 of Government Servants Efficiency and Disciplinary Rules, 1964.

In this connection, on Saturday the district monitoring officer of Dera Ismail Khan, Hayatullah Jan, also imposed Rs50,000 fine on JUI-F candidate for the seat of mayor of city council Mohammad Kafeel Nizami for printing pictures of a Ziaur Rehman on publicity material.

The DMO fined Mr Nizami when his counsel could not satisfy the DMO through his arguments and written reply.

The DMO also warned Mr Nizami that if he again violated the ECP’s directions, code of conduct or elections Act, rules, the matter would be referred to Election Commission of Pakistan for further proceedings and appropriate action under the relevant rules and laws.

Meanwhile, DRO Hayatullah Jan has also served notice on MNA Mohammad Jamalud Din for violating code of conduct by addressing a press conference on Sunday in Mufti Mehmood Markaz as part of campaign for JUI-F candidate Mohammad Kafeel Nizami.

Through the notice, the DRO directed him to appear in person or through counsel on February 8 to explain his position for violating the code of conduct and directions of ECP.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2022