LARKANA: The Election Commission of Pakistan’s district monitoring officer for Larkana has asked Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to clarify his position on attending and addressing a public meeting at Peoples Stadium in Larkana on June 21, just a few days ahead of the first phase of local government election held on June 26.

The election officer issued a letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn, to Bhutto- Zardari and directed him to appear in person or send a counsel today on June 28 in the office of district election commissioner to clarify his position.

The letter said: “You [Bilawal] were informed by the election officer through advisory that your participation in the public gathering would be tantamount to violation of code of conduct issued by ECP”.

It cited relevant paragraph of the code of conduct which Bilawal-Bhutto had violated and said in case of his failure to clear his position the case would be forwarded to ECP for further necessary action.

The ECP directed Larkana deputy commissioner to serve the notice on Bhutto-Zardari. Its copy was also sent to Jamil Ahmed Soomro, political secretary to Bhutto-Zardari.

The election officer had issued an identical letter to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on June 25 for attending and addressing a public meeting in violation of the code of conduct issued by the ECP.

The letter asked the chief minister to appear in person or through his counsel in the district election commissioner’s office today on June 28 to clarify his position. In case of failure his case would be forwarded to ECP for further action, warned the letter.

The copies of the letters were also sent to secretary of ECP, provincial election commissioner and others.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2022