PESHAWAR
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday imposed a fine of Rs50,000 each on Shahram Tarakai, minister for education and Atif Khan, minister for information technology and science for violating the code of conduct for the upcoming by-polls by attending a political rally in the Mardan district and using state resources for it.
District Monitoring Officer (DMO), Mardan, Falak Naz, had served notices on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial ministers Atif Khan and Shahram Khan Tarakai.
They were directed to appear before the DMO to explain their position as to why state resources were used for a political rally in Mardan in violation of Para 17-B and Para 30 of the code of conduct for the by-polls. The counsels for the above-mentioned PTI ministers appeared before the DMO and submitted written replies.
However, the DMO termed their replies not satisfactory and imposed a fine of Rs50, 000 each on the ministers. ECP has directed them to deposit the imposed fine by October 17. By-polls are to be held in four NA constituencies in Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan and Kurram on October 16.
The PTI chairman is a candidate for all these constituencies. According to the ECP, as per the election code of conduct, state machinery cannot be used for any political activity in an area where elections are being held.
Besides, the president, prime minister, chief minister, governor, speaker, cabinet members or any public office holder shall not attend a political rally or use official resources in favour of any candidate in an area where the election schedule has been announced.
