Election Code Violations: Notices Issued to Punjab Minister and SAPM
Election Code Violations is covered in the report below.
On November 21, 2025, notices were issued to Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Huzaifa Rehman for purported violations of th
On November 21, 2025, notices were issued to Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Huzaifa Rehman for purported violations of the Election Code of Conduct under the Election Act of 2017, as confirmed by Punjab Election Commissioner Sharifullah.
Election Code Violations: Code of Conduct Violations
A spokesperson for the provincial election commission stated that both officials have been asked to provide explanations by the end of the day. "No minister or advisor is allowed to run an election campaign," the spokesperson emphasized, warning that swift action will be taken against any breaches to ensure free, fair, and impartial elections.
The by-elections for six national and seven provincial assembly seats in Punjab are scheduled to take place on November 23. Reports from the Dera Ghazi Khan district monitoring officer indicated that Minister Leghari participated in the campaign of PML-N candidate Mahmood Leghari for the NA-185 constituency, thus contravening official directives. The monitoring officer has requested Leghari to present his defense regarding the allegations.
SAPM's Continued Violations
In addition, the monitoring officer indicated that SAPM Huzaifa Rehman has been actively participating in election-related activities, despite the restrictions outlined in the election code.
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry is also under scrutiny, with the Faisalabad district monitoring officer reporting repeated violations of the election code. The officer stated that Chaudhry had received warnings regarding his conduct but disregarded them, resulting in a fine of Rs50,000 for his infractions. This case is to be forwarded to the election body for further action.
Upcoming Election Timeline
It is important to note that by-election campaigns for 13 constituencies in Punjab's national and provincial assemblies will officially conclude at midnight on November 21. Preparations have been finalized for the upcoming elections on November 23. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has warned that candidates who continue to engage in political activities after this deadline will face legal consequences. Potential penalties for violations can include imprisonment for up to two years, fines of up to Rs100,000, or both.
The constituencies involved include NA-18 Haripur, NA-96 Faisalabad-II, NA-104 Faisalabad-X, NA-129 Lahore-XIII, NA-143 Sahiwal-III, NA-185 Dera Ghazi Khan-II, PP-73 Sargodha-III, PP-87 Mianwali-III, PP-98 Faisalabad-I, PP-115 Faisalabad-XVIII, PP-116 Faisalabad-XIX, PP-203 Sahiwal-VI, and PP-269 Muzaffargarh-II.
