GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan High Court has instructed all federal ministers, lawmakers and political leaders to leave the region within three days due to violations of the election code of conduct.
The court was hearing a writ petition filed against the PPP and PML-N. A bench comprising Justice Malik Haq Nawaz and Justice Ali Baig issued the directives instructing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), interim chief minister and chief secretary to issue the directives immediately.
It may be mentioned that PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Federal Minister Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur are actively campaigning in the region.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has alreadt issued a notice to Bilawal for allegedly violating the relevant code of conduct during his rallies in Gilgit-Baltistan. PPP information secretary Senator Maula Bux Chandio has condemned the issuance of notices, saying they were issued to those holding government positions and added the ECP would have to prove its impartiality.
He repeated PPP’s allegation that Prime Minister Imran Khan had started rigging in the elections by announcing that Gilgit-Baltistan would be made a province and certain projects would be launched there. He reminded the rulers that PPP had already warned of a march to Islamabad if the results of GB elections were changed.
Earlier on Thursday while addressing a corner meeting in Astore, Bilawal demanded that CEC GB Raja Shahbaz Khan should reveal his meeting record with government functionaries in Islamabad.
Bilawal said that the responsibility of CEC is to hold free and fair elections in but he is holding meetings in Islamabad and addressing press conference against him. He said He does not hold any public office and has the right to run the election campaign of his party.
He alleged that the election commissioner is facilitating the prime minister and federal ministers in violating elections laws, and is not protecting the rights those participating in free and fair elections.
The PPP chairman also criticised PM Imran for announcing status of G-B as an interim province as former president Asif Ali Zardari had already given that status and appointed governor and chief minister for the region.
He said that the prime minister was totally ignorant of the situation in G-B. He also said that the visits of the premier and the federal ministers were in violation of election laws.
