By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday declared petitions against caretaker ministers and advisers as maintainable.
The ECP had reserved verdict on petitions against federal ministers and advisers over their political associations.
The election commission has issued notices to Federal Minister for Privatization Fawad Hassan Fawad, Adviser Ahad Cheema and Principal Secretary to the PM Tauqeer Shah.
The ECP while serving notices to the parties, has fixed hearing of the matter on October 26.
Petitioner, Advocate Azizuddin Kakakhel had filed an application in the election commission, which had reserved its decision on it on October 10.
Earlier in July, the ECP had asked caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to remove ministers who are involved in politics.
The Secretary ECP in a letter to the caretaker CM sought the removal of caretaker ministers, advisers and special assistants over ‘political associations’.
The letter stated ECP has come to know about the appointments of caretaker ministers based on political affiliations and former caretaker minister Shahid Khattak is proof of political appointment. However, there are still several ministers who have expressed their political affiliation in media which is a violation of the Election Act 2017.
Earlier, the ECP sought a report from the Election Commissioner of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regarding participation and speech of caretaker minister Shahid Khattak in a public meeting.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the last date for freezing the voter lists across the country.
The ECP spokesperson Haroon Khan Shinwari said in a statement that the voter lists across the country will be frozen on October 25, formally stopping the process of registration, correctness and transfer of voters.
He said that the data of more than 800,000 nationals was collected from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the data entry process was underway.
The spokesperson saida that all of the registered nationals could cast votes in the upcoming general elections. There are only 10 days left for the registration, transfer and correctness of the voters’ data.
Shinwari asked the nationals to ensure the registration of their votes at the earliest before the deadline expires.
Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) pledged to make essential changes to the draft code of conduct for the upcoming elections in response to the concerns of political parties.
The ECP pledged to amend the code of ethics based on feedback from political parties, with the aim of guaranteeing equitable and transparent elections.
Apart from the members of the Election Commission, representatives of various political parties and senior officers of the Election Commission participated in the meeting.
