ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday withheld the victory notification of Bilal Chaudhry, the winning candidate from NA-96 Faisalabad, following allegations that his brother, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, repeatedly violated the by-election code of ethics and failed to appear before the commission to explain his conduct.
According to the ECP’s legal team, three separate complaints were filed against Talal Chaudhry for breaching the code of conduct in the NA-96 constituency. The District Returning Officer (DRO) had issued Talal a notice on November 16, warning him and barring him from further involvement in election activities.
Despite the notice, the minister continued to participate in his brother’s campaign, prompting the ECP to impose a fine of Rs 50,000 on November 20 for repeated violations.
The legal team noted that under the Election Act, no government official, whether a federal minister, the president, prime minister, Senate chairman, or speaker, is permitted to take part in election campaigns. They recommended strict action after both Talal and Bilal Chaudhry failed to appear before the commission, although their legal representatives were present.
During Monday’s hearing, Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja criticised the federal government and Talal Chaudhry for “not considering themselves bound by the law,” noting the repeated code of conduct breaches.
When asked if Bilal Chaudhry had won the NA-96 seat, officials confirmed his victory, but the CEC clarified that the notification of his win would not be issued at this stage, meaning the candidate could still face disqualification under the law.
Talal Chaudhry’s lawyer informed the commission that the minister could not attend the hearing due to prior commitments and had requested an exemption. Similarly, Bilal Chaudhry’s lawyer said his client was unable to appear because of ongoing election-related duties. The commission accepted both requests but maintained the suspension of the NA-96 notification.
The ECP emphasised that the action does not amount to disqualification at this stage but is intended to ensure compliance with the election code of conduct and legal processes. The hearing has been adjourned until December 2, when further proceedings will determine the next steps.
