PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday warned that strict action would be taken if the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor, the chief minister, his advisers and cabinet members attended the public meeting of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan scheduled for Tuesday (today).

According to a press release issued here, district monitoring officer (DMO) for NA-31, Peshawar-V, Shahabuddin, pointed out that under para 17 of the Election Code of Conduct, the president, the prime minister, Senate chairman and deputy chairman, the speaker and deputy speaker of any of the assemblies, federal ministers, ministers of state, governor, chief minister, provincial ministers, and advisers to the prime minister and chief minister should not attend public meeting of any of the contesting candidates.

It was added that they should also not use government resources in favour of any of the candidates.

The DMO warned that anyone found violating the code of conduct for by-elections would be dealt with under the relevant law.

Former prime minister Imran Khan is a contesting candidate for NA-31, for which polling will be held on Sept 25.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2022