Video making inside polling station: ECP summons ANP's Samar Bilour

PESHAWAR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has taken notice of a viral video showing ANP’s Samar Haroon Bilour, stamping ballot paper for today’s by-elections and making a victory sign after facing camera inside a polling station in Peshawar, and ordered her to appear in person for explanation.

Also read: By-elections: code of conduct violations, arrests reported across country

The ECP said that it had come to its notice through a video circulated on social media and electronic media showing therein the recording of casting vote in the premises of the polling station.

اے این پی رہنماء ثمر ہارون بلور ووٹ کاسٹ کرتے ہوئے ویکٹری کا نشان بناتے ہوئے۔۔۔۔#Vote4Laltain pic.twitter.com/OlTGWOfBsZ

— Adam Khan Wazir (@AdamKhanWazirPK) October 16, 2022

“Your attention is drawn towards article 226 of the constitution of Islamic republic of Pakistan read with section 175 and section 178 of the Elections Act, 2017 whereby the aforementioned act of interference with secrecy of vote comes under illegal practice. The relevant section 178 (d) is reproduced as under: “Interference with secrecy of voting: A person is guilty of interference with the secrecy of voting if he: (d) takes or attempts to take a photograph of the marked ballot paper by using cell phone camera or any other device to interfere with the secrecy of vote,” the notice reads.

The ECP called upon Samar Haroon Bilour to appear in person or through her counsel on 17-10-2022 at 11:00 am in the office situated at Malik Plaza Kohat Road, Opposite Gulshan Rehman Colony Peshawar, to explain her position.

“Failure to appear before the undersigned on the aforementioned date, time and venue may warrant ex-party legal action against you under the relevant provisions of law, including forwarding your case to ECP for disqualification and further necessary action.” the ECP added.