ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that he had not violated the election`s code of conduct by visiting Ghotki to condole the death of a member of his cabinet.

`Our client (the prime minister) has not participated in any political programme or a meeting/rally nor he made any political statement [or] press talk which is a proof of the fact that Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf has deep respect for the electoral laws and code of conduct,` said a reply submitted by the prime minister through his counsel Babar Awan to a notice issued to him by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)for allegedviolationof the code of conduct by visiting Ghotki ahead of the by-election in NA-205 (Ghotki) which is scheduled for July 18.

The written response to the notice was submitted by former federal minister Babar Awan who met ECP secretary Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad here on Thursday.

The reply noted that Para 17(b) of the ECP code of conduct forbids parliamentarians and public of fice holders from participating in the election campaign in any manner after the announcement of the schedule, but it `does not bar religious visit for condolence` and the prime minister `has not participated in the election campaign in any manner, whatsoever`.

The reply termed as `malicious, scandalous and baseless` the complaint filed by a candidate against the prime minister`s visit, alleging that the candidate was attempting to `illegally in fluence the elec-tion campaign in his favour by bringing the name of prime minister of Pakistan in the local dirty politics of his party`.

It has been pointed out in the notice that it was a `matter of public record` that a member of the federal cabinet, minister for narcotics control Ali Mohammad Mahar, had passed away and the prime minister had visited his f amily in Ghotki on June 19 to condole the minister`s demise.

It was Mr Mahar`s death which had necessitated the by-election for the NA-205 seat.

It says that the prime minister had not participated in any political programme or a meeting or rally, nor did he made any political statement or give a press talk. `A bare perusal of the para-17 (part-B) of the code of conduct it becomes clear that the show cause notice dated 19.06.2019 is misconceived and has been issued without any legal justification and reason,`, it reads.

The premier`s counsel requested the ECP to withdraw the show cause notice issued to his client for being `misconceived and without any legal justification andreason`.

According to the reply, PM Khan reserves the right to file a complaint for the initiation of proceedings against the complainant `for making a false and dishonest statement` before the ECP. It sought a copy of the complaint and the accompanying affidavit for appropriate legal action.

According to the letter issued by the election commission, a complaint against the visit was registered by Abdul Bari Pitafi, a candidate from the constituency.

The candidate had pointed out that PM Khan`s visit to Ghotki was in violation of the ECP`s code of conduct as the schedule for the by-election had already been notified.

In the show cause notice, the prime minister was given one week time to submit a reply in the matter.