BAHAWALPUR: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has summoned the Punjab cooperatives minister, District Coordination Officer Imran Sikandar Baloch and DPO Sarfraz Ahmned Falki in Islamabad on Dec 31.

Bahawalpur District Election Commissioner Mian Muhammad Shahid told Dawn that all the three had been summoned to submit their replies in connection with the allegation that the registration of a case against the Punjab minister over his alleged violation of election code was delayed.

During the phase-III election campaign, candidate Malik Majid Channar had in a complaint to the ECP alleged that Punjab Minister Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar violated the election code by canvassing for the PML-N candidates.

At this, Bahawalpur Regional Election Commissioner Haroon Khan in his capacity as district returning officer (DRO) twice summoned Malik Iqbal Channar at his office, but the minister did not appear before him.The regional election commissioner referred the case to the ECP, which directed DPO Sarfraz Falki to register a case against the minister which was delayed. Besides, the DCO was accused of carrying out development work on political grounds.

The ECP had earlier summoned the respondents on Dec10 for submission of their replies, but the minister requested to grant him time to engage a counsel. The DPO submitted that he took legal action against the minister as soon as he received a letter from the DRO. The DCO in his reply had also denied charges against him.

BY-ELECTION: The ECP has announced byelection to the slot of chairman and vice chairman in union council-10 of the Bahawalpur municipal corporation on Dec 30.

The seat had fallen vacant due to the death of candidate Altaf Rashid of PML-N.

The nomination papers would be received by the returning officer on Dec15 (today) while scrutiny would be carried out on Dec 16.

The election symbol would be allotted to candidates on Dec 20.