ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday ordered immediate release of two independent candidates from South Waziristan tribal district of former Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

In an order passed by a three-member bench, headed by Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza, the ECP observed that the arrests made after the announcement of the election schedule were `tantamount to pre-poll rigging` and ordered relevant authorities to withdraw the detention orders within a day.

Both candidates had been arrested earlier this month.

Mohammad Arif Wazir, a candidate for the provincial assembly seat from PK-113 (South Waziristan-1) and Mohammad Iqbal Masud, a candidate from PK-114 (South Waziristan-1) constituency, were arrested under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance on June 19 and June 24.

The ECP had taken notice of their arrest on Thursday and summoned the KP home and tribal affairs secretary to appear in person on Friday.

While appearing before the ECP, KP`s additional secretary security (home) Mohammad Kabir said the secretary was in the Northern Areas and was not present in Peshawar.

He confirmed that the two contesting candidates from South Waziristan had been arrested on orders made by South Waziristan`s deputy commissioner under the MPO law as they were delivering speeches and raising slogans against Pakistan`s security. He added that an FIR had also been registered against them.

The ECP, however, observed that they had not been arrested at the time of FIR`s registration but during election campaign af ter the issuance of the polls schedule.

`It is a clear indication of helping the remaining candidates in the constituency and is also tantamount to pre-poll rigging,` the order stated.

The commission noted that any action against them could be taken by the law-enforcement agencies after polling day and during electionby the district monitoring officer under provisions of Election Act, 2017.

`In order to ensure free, fair and transparent election under Article 218 of the Constitution, it is hereby directed that the above said orders passed under Section 3 [of the] MPO shall be withdrawn within one day and till the close of polling day qua Muhammad Arif Wazir, s/o Saad Ullah Jan and Muhammad Iqbal Masud s/0, Maweez Khan.

Section 3 of Article 218 of the Constitution stated: `It shall be the duty of the Election Commission [omitted] to organise and conduct the election and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, and that corrupt practices are guarded against.

As the secretary did not appear before thebench on Friday, the ECP was informed `he had gone to northern areas and was not available at Peshawar`. The commissionthen ordered the additional home secretary of KP to `convey [the ECP`s] order to the concerned deputy commissioner immediately and (report in) compliance today,` the order said.

The hrst-ever elections on the 16 general seats of the provincial assembly from erstwhile Fata are scheduled to take place on July 20.

ANP, PPP men in police custody Earlier on Thursday, police raided the election office of the Awami National Party (ANP) and arrested its two workers.

The ANP members while addressing a press conference af ter the raid condemned the arrests and declared it a conspiracy to stop the party from running its election campaign.

ANP`s South Waziristan chapter president Yasin Khan, and the Shakai Teshil president of the party, Amir Khan, had reportedly been arrested for allegedly taking out a political rally in the district in violation of Section 144or the criminal procedure code.

Recently, former president Asif Ali Zardari had demanded that the ECP ensure early release of PPP`s candidate from South Waziristan Imran Wazir.

He said the arrest had put a question mark on the ECP`s credibility and transparency of the upcoming elections. However, he said, detentions could not demoralise PPP supporters.