The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday reserved its verdict in the case of violation of election code of conduct by former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Former prime minister had violated the election code during a by-election campaign at Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  A three-member bench of the ECP, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, heard the case. Barrister Gohar, representing PTI chairman in the case, said that an advisory had been issued to the KP chief minister and provincial cabinet ministers about not participating in election rallies. But no such advisory was issued to Imran, he clarified. He further said there was an allegation against his client that he had wasted money from the national exchequer on the campaign.

But truth of the matter is that he did not spend a penny from the exchequer, he asserted.    During the hearing, the CEC asked where in the constitution it was written that a person who was already a member of the National Assembly (MNA) could again contest for NA seat. Addressing the PTI  lawyer Barrister Gohar, he asked as to where were the resignations of those 150 MNAs which PTI chairman always referred to in his speeches. Bring those 150 resignations; we will accept them right now, he said. Barrister replied that the remaining resignations were with the secretary National Assembly, and these had not been sent to the ECP. Special Secretary ECP said that the former prime minister had the right to hold public meetings since no advisory had been issued to him.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP