A day after PML-N candidate Hanif Abbasi was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in ephedrine case, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday postponed election in NA-60 Rawalpindi-IV.
The commission said election in the said constituency will be conducted after the scheduled general elections. According to an official of the ECP, as Hanif Abbasi, a potential candidate from NA-60 Rawalpind-IV, has been disqualified only two days before the general elections, a heated debate in the media and political circles has rendered the atmosphere of the constituency negatively charged. “Serious criticism is afloat regarding the provision of level-playing field in the general elections,” he said.
The official said the ECP having taken cognizance of the prevalent circumstances was bound to provide a level-playing field to the contestants under the constitution and the law, particularly Section 4 of Election Act, 2017 read with Article 218(3) of the construction.
Published in Daily Times, July 23rd 2018.
