The Election Commission (EC) has received complaints against provincial and federal ministers, including National Assembly speaker, for alleged involvement in violating the "Code of Conduct" for local bodies elections.
However, the complaints regarding violation of ban on postings and transfers, use of development funds and state machinery were termed by the concerned provincial authorities as baseless and biased.
The data distributed by the Election Commission to the newsmen shows that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan was also among the complainants who sought the help of the Election Commission against the Punjab provincial government's violation of ban on postings and transfers in his district.
The Election Commission had issued 28-point Code of Conduct on July 13 wherein federal and provincial ministers were barred from using their positions to muster support for them or any other candidate.
The federal and provincial ministers, ministers of state, advisers and standing committees chairmen were also restricted from using official vehicle, party's flag or announce any development project during the election campaign.
The Election Commission had also directed the provincial governments not to make any posting/transfer after the announcement of the schedule for the local government elections.
A complaint was lodged with the Election Commission that Minister of State for Tourism Sumera Malik was interfering in the election, but when it was sent to the Khushab DCO, he rejected it and contended that Fesco was undertaking electrification schemes in different villages according to its own plan rather than on the orders of the MNA.
Similarly, Bashir Ahmed of Sialkot Union Council has complaint against National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain on July 21 upon which the Election Commission directed the Sialkot DCO to probe the matter and submit a detailed report within two days, but the report has not yet been submitted.
Similar complaint was made against provincial Bait-ul-Maal Minister Ijaz Shafi on July 25 and the Punjab chief secretary was directed to probe the matter and submit report to the Election Commission within two days, but the investigation report is still awaited.
A complaint against federal Textile Minister Mushtaq Cheema for his alleged interference in the election was also rejected by the district returning officer.
The Election Commission has received 39 complaints of violation of ban on transfers, use of state machinery and campaign by the ministers from Punjab, which included 44 from Sindh, 14 from NWFP and one from Balochistan.
A large number of complaints were against provincial governments regarding violation of ban on postings/transfers and use of state machinery by the ministers.
However, majority of complaints were reported to the Election Commission as baseless by the respective returning officers.
Comments
Comments are closed.