Pakistan’s election watchdog has stepped in just hours before polling in Gujranwala, taking notice of an alleged breach of the election code by a federal minister and warning that the constituency’s result could be held back until the matter is decided.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Saturday that it had taken notice of an alleged violation of the code of conduct by Federal Minister for Information Ataullah Tarar during the by-election campaign in NA-77 Gujranwala. According to media reports, the minister visited the constituency by helicopter and addressed a public gathering, an act the commission is now examining.
In a statement shared on X, an ECP spokesperson said the commission had sought reports from the District Monitoring Officer and the District Returning Officer to investigate the matter. The minister has been directed to appear before the commission in his personal capacity.
The spokesperson added that the result of the constituency may be withheld until a final decision is reached, a step that would leave the outcome of Sunday’s vote in limbo while the inquiry runs its course.
Security tightened for Sunday’s vote
Polling in NA-77 Gujranwala and PP-203 Sahiwal is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November. The federal government has approved the deployment of the army and the Rangers for both by-elections, with the security personnel remaining in place from 7 to 9 November.
According to sources, the army and Rangers will assist the Election Commission with general security duties, with the Rangers deployed in the second tier and the army in a third-tier quick response role. The army has been deployed under Article 220 of the Constitution, while the Rangers have been called out under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The Election Commission had itself requested the deployment to ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections.
The notice comes under the commission’s code of conduct, which restricts campaign activity by public office holders once an election schedule has been announced. The notice to a sitting federal minister on the eve of polling underlines how closely the commission is watching the by-elections. With the result now potentially subject to the outcome of the inquiry, all eyes will be on the ECP’s next move once polling closes.