GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court on Friday ordered federal ministers and government officials associated with the PTI government to leave Gilgit Baltistan in 3 days as it is deemed a breach of the rules set by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
A two-member bench comprising of Justice Malik Haq Nawaz and Justice Ali Baig announced the verdict on a writ petition filed over violation of the code of conduct ahead of the upcoming polls in Gilgit Baltistan.
The court directed Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chief Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan, Chief Minister, and Chief Secretary to implement the decision immediately and ensure the removal of the PTI minister from the region in 3 days.
‘Pre-polling rigging’
Earlier, PPP leader Sherry Rehman had lamented that Prime Minister Imran Khan and federal ministers violated the electoral code of conduct by running political campaigns and urged the Chief Election Commissioner to take notice.
“The prime minister and a federal minister is running the campaign of their party illegally in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is clear violation of the code of conduct of the elections and a pre-polling rigging,” she had said.
Rehman added that the federal ministers were addressing corner meetings and announcing development projects in the campaign — none of which was not allowed after the announcement of the Gilgit-Baltistan election schedule.
PPP’s complaint to CEC
The PPP had also written a complaint letter to the GB CEC about Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct by campaigning in the elections for the PTI.
“Gandapur’s speeches are being telecast by several channels in which he is shown making electoral promises to the electorate,” PPP Election Cell In-charge Taj Haider had said in the letter.
