PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified Umar Amin Gandapur, brother of federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur, from contesting local body elections.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja headed a three-member bench that delivered the verdict after repeated violations of the election code of conduct despite warnings.
Umar Gandapur has been barred from running for the mayoral slot for Dera Ismail Khan in the upcoming second phase of local government polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 13.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur has also been banned from addressing any political gathering or taking part in election campaigning in the district. However, he has been allowed to address family gatherings of a personal nature.
Last week, the ECP had directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary and inspector general of police to expel the minister from the district following his repeated violations of the code of conduct.
The ECP had taken notice of the violations and summoned the minister on February 1 to explain his position. It had noted that the minister had violated the election code by participating in a campaign and announcing development schemes in the area. The ECP had slapped a fine of Rs50,000 on Ali Amin but the PTI lawmaker had again addressed a public rally in Dera Ismail Khan.
