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ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday directed Prime Minister Imran Khan and Asad Umar to join Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) proceedings over violation of code of conduct by addressing public rallies.
The directive came from the IHC bench headed by Justice Amir Farooq after the prime minister on behalf of his counsel sought the court’s help to suspend the ECP notice served to him for attending rallies ahead of local bodies elections in the KP province despite holding public office.
The Islamabad High Court rejected the plea to suspend the ECP notice with Justice Amir Farooq saying that the petitioner neither has a copy of the code of conduct nor date of next appearance of Imran Khan and Asad Umar before the commission.
While giving his argument, the prime minister’s counsel Syed Ali Zafar quoted newly amended ordinance and said that under the fresh law, the public office holder could attend gatherings ahead of polls.
The high court while rejecting a plea to issue a stay order against the ECP order issued notices to the Election Commission, cabinet division, the attorney general of Pakistan for the next hearing on March 28.
It may be recalled here that, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Thursday challenged the notices issued to them by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for attending a public meeting in Dir a few days back, in Islamabad High Court (IHC).
On March 11, the ECP had issued notices to PM Imran Khan and other PTI officials for attending an election rally in Lower Dir in violation of the ECP rule of conduct.