PM Imran and Asad Umar file a complaint with the IHC over the ECP's notifications.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan and Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar have challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan's notices given to them for attending a public gathering in Dir a few days ago before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The ECP had issued notifications to Prime Minister Imran Khan and other PTI leaders on March 11 for violating the ECP rule of conduct by attending an electoral rally in Lower Dir.

"Filed petition at Islamabad HC today," Asad Umar wrote on Twitter, confirming the step.

"Due procedure was followed for the issue of ordinance permitting public office holders to campaign," Umar remarked, justifying their attendance at the public gathering.

The minister, in rebuttal to the ECP's notifications, stated that the electoral body could not ignore the legislation on the ground.

When he arrived at the IHC, he told journalists that he had submitted a plea in this respect, which was co-signed by Prime Minister Imran Khan and himself.

According to the minister, the ECP lacks the power to interpret the legislation. They have asked the court to begin hearings on the case right away, according to Umar.

Through the Secretary Cabinet, the ECP and the federation were added as parties to the petition.

It questioned, "Does the ECP have the jurisdiction to strike down a modification to the Elections Act's code of conduct?"

The ECP, according to the suit, broke the law by serving notices on PTI leaders for attending a public gathering.

The ECP stated that when the ordinance is passed, public office holders cannot be barred from participating in election campaigns.

The petitioners asked the court to declare ECP's notifications from March 10-11 invalid.

The Registrar expresses his displeasure.

Meanwhile, the IHC registrar filed two objections to the appeal asking for the ECP's notifications to the PTI leaders to be declared null and invalid.

PM Imran submitted the petition without biometric verification, according to the registrar, and his affidavit was also missing. The registrar, on the other hand, has received the petition.

PTI leaders are given notice by the ECP.

On March 11, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notifications to Prime Minister Imran Khan and other PTI officials for attending a campaign event in Lower Dir.

In addition to the Prime Minister, the ECP sent letters to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman, Chief Minister Mehmood Khan, federal ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umer, and Murad Saeed, and others.

PTI officials were handed notifications by the ECP Lower Dir district monitoring officer (DMO) after they spoke at a public rally in violation of the modified code of conduct.

According to the DMO, there was enough evidence to indicate that the code of conduct had been breached.

SWAT: Prime Minister Imran Khan stated on Wednesday that the opposition thinks its leaders would be imprisoned if he continues in government for another year.

The premier took a swipe at the Opposition, telling a crowd at the Grassy Ground in Saidu Sharif, Swat, that the country's three biggest "thieves" — PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman — will face difficulties if the PTI-led government stays for another year.

The prime minister asked Pakistanis to fight against three "mice" — Zardari, Fazl, and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif — for the country's future.

The prime minister remarked, alluding to the no-confidence motion against him, that "people's conscience is being auctioned [...] it is now the obligation of people to act against evil."

The vote on the Opposition's no-trust resolution against the premier is due in the last few days of the month, with the government attempting to charm its allies into backing it and the Opposition attempting to split the coalition in the National Assembly.

The prime minister is in Swat for a one-day visit ahead of the second round of local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Following its first-round setback, the PTI has stepped up its campaigning, with Prime Minister Imran Khan headlining rallies in key cities.