Prime Minister Imran Khan came to Peshawar on Wednesday despite an order from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) not to come due to the upcoming local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, The Asian Mirror reported.
In response to the ECP restriction, KP Minister for High Education Kamran Bangash stressed that the prime minister’s visit was official in nature and that he would only attend a ceremony at the Governor’s House. He also stated that the prime minister will not be attending any election or public event.
The Pakistani Election Commission had previously barred Prime Minister Imran Khan from visiting Peshawar because of the upcoming local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on December 19.
The election commission prohibited the prime minister from visiting Peshawar, citing a violation of the election code if the leader of Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf did so. The ECP has also sent Prime Minister Imran Khan a reminder in this regard.
The first phase of local government elections will take place in Peshawar, as planned. If the prime minister visits a region where the election schedule has already been announced, the ECP considers it a violation of the election code.
According to the election code, after the publication of the date of the polls, the president, prime minister, or governors are not permitted to visit the affected area for the purpose of launching development programs.
Prime Minister Imran Khan was scheduled to be in Peshawar today to launch the Pakistan Card program in the city.
