GB CEC warns Bilawal over violating election code of conduct

Chief Election Commissioner Gilgit Baltistan Raja Shahbaz Khan on Wednesday said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has been violating the election code of conduct, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Raja Shahbaz Khan said the Election Commission has issued 35 notices to PPP on violation of COVID-19 SOPs.

“A total of 95 notices have been issued so far to political parties including 35 notices to PPP, 23 to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and 12 to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz,” he said.

The Chief Election Commissioner refuting any pre-poll rigging challenged those who are spreading rumours to approach him and provide evidence of what they were saying.

He said: “In 24 constituencies, Returning Officers (ROs) are present and they can’t see any rigging.”

In an important press conference just before nine days of Gilgit Baltistan elections that are scheduled to be held on November 15, Raja Shahbaz said: “The security of the elections is being provided by Gilgit Baltistan Scouts and police.”

Commenting on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Gilgit Baltistan, Raja Shahbaz said Gilgit Baltistan had become independent on November 1, 1947 and the Prime Minister came to participate in an official position. “The Prime Minister landed on the helipad. He paid tribute to the martyrs of the Gilgit Baltistan and went back,” he added.

He promised that Gilgit Baltistan elections 2020 will be free and fair and the entire electoral process right from the nominations of papers to Returning Officers to electoral vote has been transparent.

“I will check it wherever there will be rigging,” he assured. However, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) said he was surprised to know such claims that there is rigging.

Sharing the voters data with the media, he said there are 70,45,361 voters in 2020 in comparison to the over 0.6 million voters data of 2015 Gilgit Baltistan elections.