ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakist an (E CP) on Monday de-notified the Pakistan Peoples Party`s Bashir Ahmad Halepoto as member of the Sindh Assembly from PS-55 (Badin).

`The ECP has de-notified the membership of Mr Bashir Ahmad Halepoto, MPA, due to disqualification from the provincial assembly of Sindh`s constituency No PS-55 (Badin-cum-Tando Mohammad Khan) with effect from 29. 12. 2016,` a notification issued by the commission reads.

The ECP on Dec 29 had disqualified Mr Halepoto for violating electoral code of conduct during local government elections in Badin early last year.

An ECP bench headed by retired Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza and comprising Abdul Ghaffar Soomro (Sindh), retired Justice Altaf Ibrahim Qureshi (Punjab) and retired Justice Shakeel Ahmad Baloch (Balochistan) had announced the decision on an application filed by Hassam Mirza, the son of Dr Fehmida Mirza, former speaker of the National Assembly.

It is for the first time in the country`s history that a lawmaker has been punished for violation of the code of conduct.

The ECP has been facing criticism in the past for not acting against violators of thecode setting rules of the game during elections.

HassamMirzahad accusedMr Halepoto of visiting polling stations in Badin and canvassing for his (the former`s) rival candidate during LG polls.

Documentary evidence of Mr Halepoto meddling in the electoral process, including video clips and photographs showing his presence at polling stations, had been provided to the commission.

Under the code of conduct for LG polls, members of the National and provincial assemblies are barred from visiting the constituencies where schedule for elections has been announced.

Badin district had emerged as a hotbed of politics during the LG polls where the family of Dr Zulfikar Mirza stood against the PPP.

Mr Halepoto also served as a member of the National Assembly in 1985, 1988 and 1990.

A schedule for by-election on the seat that has fallen vacant as a result of Mr Halepoto`s disqualification is yet to be announced.

Several heavyweights, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan and Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, have been issued notices for violation of the code of conduct in dif ferent constituencies by campaigning in favour of their parties` candidates. But the matter appears to have been shelved by the ECP.