No poll campaign after Feb 6 midnight: ECP

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday notified (alerted) all the candidates and political parties participating in the general elections 2024 that there will be no poll campaign after February 6 midnight.

“According to Section 182 of the Elections Act 2017, no person shall hold orparticipate in any public meeting, procession, corner meeting or such political activity after 12 midnight on February 6, 2024 and February 7, 2024.

“Therefore, legal action will be taken against any person who violates the above provision of the law,” a spokesman of the ECP said. The polling is slated for February 8.Meanwhile, Caretaker Federal Minister for Communications Maritime Affairs and Railways Shahid Ashraf Tarar, who is convener of the committee constituted by the prime minister to oversee the preparations for the general elections 2024, called on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja at the Election Commission Secretariat here to brief him on the preparations of the federal and provincial governments for elections.

Separately, the ECP will resume hearing and recording of evidence in the contempt of the ECP and chief election commissioner in the contempt case on January 24 against PTI founder Imran Khan and ex-federal minister Fawad Chaudhry.

Meanwhile, in an unusual twist of events, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday cancelled the notifications of returning officers (ROs) postponing polls in NA-83 and NA-85 (Sargodha) after it was found out that a contesting candidate had died on January 2, not on January 15.An ECP bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the matter of postponement of elections in NA-83 and NA-85. The notification for postponement of election in these constituencies was issued on January 19.

Section 73 of the Elections Act 2017 reads, “Death of a candidate after nomination. — (1) If a contesting candidate dies before commencement of the poll or during the polling hours, the Returning Officer shall, by public notice, terminate the proceedings relating to that election. (2) Where the proceedings relating to an election have been terminated under sub-section (1), fresh proceedings shall be commenced in accordance with the provisions of this Act, as if for a new election but it shall not be necessary for the other contesting candidates to file fresh nomination papers or make a further deposit under section 61.”

The petitioner, PMLN candidate Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, appeared in before the bench, the Sargodha DRO and ROs were also present. Bhatti told the forum that he received a notice from the RO that a candidate had died in his constituency, and the death certificate of the deceased candidate, bears date of January 15. He asked the electoral body not to postpone elections to the constituencies.

The petitioner maintained that after investigation, it was found that Sadiq Ali, the deceased (candidate) died on January 2, whereas his funeral prayers were held on January 3. He claimed that forgery has been done in this matter. He pointed out that the DC Sargodha has also conducted an inquiry into the matter.

On his part, the DRO said that he had conducted an inquiry and it was proved that Sadiq Ali died on January 2. The statements of Sadiq Ali’s mother, daughter were also recorded in the inquiry.

The Imam masjid informed the Election Commission, who was also summoned through a notice, that he had offered the funeral prayer of Sadiq Ali on January 3.

The RO of NA-85 said that now it had been proved that the candidate had died on January 2 and they were provided a fake death certificate.

The Union Council secretary said: “We issued death certificate on the request of numberdar’s confirmation and his son, to which the lambardar claimed that his signature was forged.”

The ECP said that the polls would be conducted in both the constituencies as per the schedule and the election process should be continued.

Separately, the ECP fixed the ‘incident of hooliganism by Mumtaz Mustafa’, candidate of NA-171, Rahim Yar Khan, in violation of the Elections Act 2017, and code of conduct for hearing today (January 23).

Meanwhile, while taking notice of aerial firing by the Grand Democratic Alliance’s candidate Irfanullah Marwat has directed Inspector General Police, Sindh, to take action against those responsible and submit a report to it.

The district monitoring officer has served the GDA candidate a show cause notice and asked him to submit a reply within two days.