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ECP issues notices to 3 ministers for 'violating poll code'

Islamabad - Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Abid Sher Ali and Marvi Memon addressed an election rally in support of former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued notices to three federal ministers for taking part in election campaign of former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq in by-poll for Lahore's National Assembly constituency NA-122 in violation of code of conduct.
The three ministers, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Abid Sher Ali and Marvi Memon addressed an election rally in support of Ayaz on Sunday evening. Simultaneously, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan addressed a rally in Lahore in support of party candidate Aleem Khan.
The returning officer of the constituency in notices to the three ministers pointed out that ministers are barred from electioneering under the code of conduct.
Earlier, Imran had moved the Lahore High Court against ECP's blanket ban on lawmakers to indulge in electioneering. The court removed the ban on lawmakers but not ministers.
Abid Sher Ali talking to reporters in Lahore said he participated in the rally as PML-N worker and cannot be stopped from doing that by the returning officer.
Earlier, the ECP had issued notices to Ayaz Sadiq and Aleem Khan for spending huge funds in election campaign beyond the limit of Rs1.5 million set for National Assembly candidates.
Meanwhile, the rising temperature in electioneering for the crucial polls touched new high point due to intense efforts by both sides to woo other political and religious parties for support. The PTI had a breakthrough when right wing Jamaat-e-Islami announced support for Aleem Khan.
The PML-N's Ayaz Sadiq had earlier won support from Ahl-e-Hadith and Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen. Both candidates are also conducting door-to-door campaign to reach out to the voters.
Last week, the ECP stopped operation till December 3, of the farmers package announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The commission noted that the package was announced to influence voters in by-polls and local government elections.
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