ISLAMABAD Sep 07 (TNS): Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday adjourned hearing of the code violation case against Punjab Minister for Food Bilal Yaseen till September 14.
A five-member bench of ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Raza Khan heard the case against the minister.
Counsel Yaseen Shahzad Shaukat submitted reply on behalf of his client in the ECP over notice issued by the Commission in the code of conduct violation case.
During the course of hearing, Yaseem counsel Shaukat added that his client did not violate the code of conduct of ECP and did not visit the constituency for campaign. He added that Bilal Yaseem home was in the area, therefore, he only visited his house.
Upon this, Chief Election commissioner remarked that ECP did not stop anyone from going to his home. He added the houses of hundreds of thousands people were in the area.
He added that the notice was taken not on visiting home rather running election campaign. He told the lawyer that there was video available showing the minister attending an election rally.
The CEC said that with the announcement of schedule of by-elections, the code of conduct of ECP came into effect.
The ECP directed the provincial minister to comply with the code of conduct. Yaseen did not appear before the commission even today.
Later the ECP adjourned hearing till September 14.
The ECP had issued notice to Bilal Yaseen over violation of its code during the campaign for by-elections on NA-120 in Lahore.
