The Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday disqualified Umar Amin Gandapur, brother of Federal Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, from taking part in the local body polls for repeatedly violating the election code of conduct despite receiving warnings several times.
A three-member ECP bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja gave the verdict. The decision bars Umar from contesting for the mayoral seat of Dera Ismail Khan in the forthcoming second stage of the local body elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The federal minister was also barred from speaking at gatherings or participating in any political activities in the district. The bench decreed that Ali would only be allowed to take part in personal domestic gatherings in the district.
The ECP last week ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary and inspector general of police to banish the minister from the district for repeatedly violating the code of conduct.
The commission had taken note of the violations in a meeting on January 28 and summoned the minister to offer explanations on February 1. It said the minister had taken part in a campaign and announced development schemes in the region.
The ECP imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on the federal minister.
