Election Commission:
The Election Commission (ECP) on Tuesday issued a notice to Hamza Shahbaz, the chief minister of Punjab, for violating the code of conduct. In reaction to the Punjab Chief Minister’s offer of a power relief package ahead of Punjab by-elections, the ECP summoned Hamza Shahbaz on July 7.
It is important to note that no government official, elected official, or government official may launch any development program in these constituencies after the release of the election timetable, following the code of conduct established by the ECP. The announcement came after the ECP prohibited the beginning of any development activities until the Punjab by-elections for 20 assembly seats were held.
According to Section 181 of the Election Act, no government employee or elected representative, including a local government employee or elected representative, shall announce any development plan for any constituency after the announcement of the election program for that constituency. The chief minister must reply to the electoral monitor either directly or through a lawyer, per the ECP notice. The ECP informed the Chief Minister that after the election calendar is made public, neither the government nor any of its representatives may announce any development plans or projects.
By-elections for 20 seats in the Punjab Assembly, which became vacant after the notification of 25 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPs, were declared by the commission on May 25. On July 17, elections will be held. It claimed that the police crackdown on PTI employees was ongoing and that they were being charged in fictitious criminal cases in the direct direction of CM Hamza. “Anoth When they are granted bail in one, er case is started against them.”
In contrast to giving services to the public, which are directly dependent on the July 17 by-elections, the chief minister’s goal, according to Fawad’s letter, was to open the way for the election of the leader of the house on July 22. In light of Pakistan’s poor economic position, Fawad said, “There is no room for such packages.” “This conduct by CM Hamza goes beyond the scope of the temporary power the Supreme Court given him,
“This is an abhorrent attempt to rig the by-elections in 20 constituencies, compromising their transparency.”
The chief minister, who was temporarily appointed with limited authority, is allegedly acting beyond of his scope and making attempts to influence the by-elections using resources from the government. It is demanded that the case be submitted before Pakistan’s top judge for review because the ECP also disregarded this.
PM Shehbaz was barred from inaugurating a project
In a related development, the ECP warned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s planned trip to Thatta to introduce the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme K-IV would be against its code of conduct and prevented him from going.
The visit of the prime minister comes as Sindh prepares to hold local government elections in nine districts—Hyderabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Badin, Sujawal, and Thatta—as well as seven districts—East, West, South, Central, Korangi, Keamari, and Malir—of the Hyderabad Division.
Premier Shehbaz was prevented by the ECP from breaking the rule of conduct in Rawalpindi’s PP-7, therefore he was forced to postpone the launching of the Karot Hydropower Project last month.
