PTI moves LHC over ECP decision barring party heads from electioneering in by-polls

LAHORE (Staff Report) - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday moved Lahore High Court (LHC) against the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that barred heads of political parties from taking part in election campaigns in by-polls.

In the petition PTI has prayed to the court that barring the party chiefs from election campaign does not come under the jurisdiction of the ECP, and that court should declare the order as null and void.

Under the ECP code of conduct Members of the Parliament are not allowed to take part in election campaigns in by-poll. However, Imran Khan is of the view that heads of political parties should be allowed to address rallies in this regard.

Addressing the party workers in Lahore the PTI chief said Election Commission’s code of conduct that forbids every member parliament from electioneering in by-polls must be limited to Prime Minister and provincial chief ministers only.

“I am head of PTI and do not hold any public office, hence I cannot influence the by-elections,” he maintained. As head of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf it is my responsibility to convey my party’s manifesto to public, he added.

Meanwhile the PTI chief has also released a video message on social media in which he is seen asking the voters of NA-122 to vote for PRI candidate Abdul Aleem Khan.