LAHORE: Taking notice to a news item about the alleged release of funds to parliamentarians for development schemes and projects and the use of state resources in NA-120 Lahore, where the by-election is scheduled to be held on September 14, 2017, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday sought details of development funds released for different constituencies. The ECP warned that no development funds should be released for NA-120 before the by-polls. It also directed the Planning Development and Reforms secretary, chief secretary and Punjab Police inspector general to take action against any violations of its election code of conduct under Article 204 of the constitution. The news report alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was using the provincial development funds to run an election campaign for Kulsoom Nawaz, the PML-N’ candidate for the NA-120 by-polls. PPP candidate for NA-120 Faisal Mir had earlier demanded the ECP to take notice of PML-N’s alleged use of public funds and government machinery to “influence and rig the results of the by-polls”. “Federal Minister Pervaiz Malik and MNA Hamza Shehbaz, along with provincial ministers and MPAs, are using the Chief Minister’s Office to run an election campaign for Kulsoom Nawaz,” he had alleged. A press release issued by the ECP on Monday said the commission had issued a code of conduct to ensure that the spirit of democracy and fairness, justness and honesty of election is fully observed by all concerned. Published in Daily Times, August 22nd 2017.