ECP summons CM Afridi for contentious remarks during the NA-18 Haripur by-elections
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and by-election candidate Shahbaz Omar Ayub have been called by the Pakistani Election Commission in response to the contentious remarks made at the Havelian rally.
The Election Commission claims that the chief minister tried to incite the rally’s audience and threatened the district administration, police, and election workers throughout his speech. It was stated that he was accompanied by a wanted criminal, whose spouse is running in the by-election.
According to the ECP, the province’s chief executive’s careless actions have had a major impact on the peaceful by-elections that were held in NA-18 Haripur.
Suhail Afridi and candidate Shehernaz Omar Ayub will be summoned on Saturday by the Commission due to their violations of the Elections Act 2017 and the code of conduct.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Election Commissioner has been instructed by the ECP to meet with the Chief Secretary and Inspector General right away in order to make the required security measures and provide the Commission with a report.
In order to ensure the safety of the District Returning Officer, Returning Officers, election staff, voters, and the general public, it has also chosen to send an urgent letter to the Secretary of the Interior Ministry, requesting that federal security agencies assist in setting up foolproof security in the constituency.
Additionally, the ECP mandated that presiding officers be transported safely to polling places and returned to the RO office following the election.
The Commission stated unequivocally that severe judicial action would be taken against any person, public figure, or office-holder who tries to tamper with or interfere with the election process during the by-elections.
Additionally, if any federal or provincial government official violates the code of conduct or tries to sway the election process, the Punjab Provincial Election Commissioner has been directed to take strong legal and constitutional action.
Letters
The army and civil armed forces will be deployed on November 23 for the Haripur by-election, according to a letter from the Election Commission to the Defence Secretary.
In order to uphold peace and order in NA-18, the ECP has also written to the Interior Secretary.
The Commission claimed that the chief minister’s statement made election workers feel intimidated and afraid, and that his combative rhetoric might make it more difficult for government officials to do their jobs.
The letter further specified that the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces should safeguard the safety of voters, the public, and election officials during the by-election, and ensure total peace and order at voting locations on 23 November.