ECP summons Attaullah Tarar over NA-77 campaign code breach
The information minister must appear in person in Lahore at 11 am on 8 November, the same day Gujranwala's NA-77 by-election is held.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued a notice to Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar over an alleged breach of the election code of conduct in the NA-77 Gujranwala by-election and summoned him to appear in person at 11 am on 8 November, the day the constituency votes.
The notice was issued by the District Monitoring Officer from the office of the Provincial Election Commissioner Punjab in Lahore, according to a statement from that office.
A spokesman for the provincial election commission said Tarar took part in the election campaign of the PML-N candidate, Rashid Bashir Warak. Federal ministers joining an election campaign violates paragraphs 18 and 41 of the code of conduct, the spokesman said.
The notice also cites Section 182 of the Elections Act 2017, which bars public gatherings, attendance at gatherings and participation in processions in a constituency during the 48 hours between the close of campaigning and midnight after polling ends. The commission had directed candidates and parties in NA-77 and in PP-203 Sahiwal to stop campaigning by the night between 6 and 7 November.
If the minister does not appear, the spokesman said, action will be taken unilaterally on the record available to the commission.
Aaj News reported that the commission, acting on media reports, has also asked the District Monitoring Officer and the District Returning Officer for reports on Tarar's helicopter tour of the constituency and his attendance at a gathering there. Aaj News said the commission has indicated that the NA-77 result may be withheld until the inquiry and a final decision are complete.
A person found in breach of the law can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to Rs100,000, or both.
The seat fell vacant after the death of the PML-N MNA Chaudhry Mahmood Bashir Warak. Eleven candidates are contesting, among them Rashid Bashir Warak of the PML-N, Qazi Ibrahim Gujjar of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, Tayyab Mahmood of the Pakistan Nazriati Party and independents.
The constituency has 518,620 registered voters, 277,480 men and 241,140 women.
How the reports differ
Aaj News reported that the commission also sought reports from the district monitoring officer and the district returning officer on Tarar's helicopter tour of the constituency and his attendance at a gathering, and that the NA-77 result could be withheld until the inquiry ends. Express News did not carry those details; its standfirst led instead on the provincial commission's statement that action would be taken on the available record if the minister failed to appear. Both outlets reported the 11 am appearance on 8 November and the same grounds, paragraphs 18 and 41 of the code of conduct and Section 182 of the Elections Act 2017.
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