Election commission says political advertisements should not promote party interests at expense of public money.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday imposed a complete ban on the print and electronic media directly or indirectly promoting any political party or candidate by carrying their logos or images in advertisements funded by public money, said a press release on Friday.
The ECP issued the directives to the federal and provincial governments to ensure its implementation.
The election commission noted that advertisements of political parties were frequently appearing in the print and electronic media which were meant to highlight the achievements of the incumbent federal and provincial governments.
The advertisements with party symbols and images of party leaders are being used to promote political parties, noted the press release.
The notification maintained that such advertisements should not be promoting party interests at the expense of public money and termed them against the norm of “level-playing field”, which cannot be allowed to continue as it would amount to misuse of the resources from the public exchequer for their own self-interest.
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Who cares for ECP's orders? These orders are only for face-saving. Shahbaz Sharif has spent billions of rupees from the national exchequer for his personal publicity and his projection during the last five years which is evident from Punjab Government's advertisement issued to various newspapers. His current election campaign is also being carried out at the cost of public money. His public meetings are being arranged by the MNAS/MPAS of his party through local government functionaries such as patwaries who pay for all expenses and are openly taking bribes from the people for this purpose as they cannot pay these heavy expenses from their meagre salaries. Even after ban on such advertisements by ECP an advertisement has been issued in today's newspapers by Disaster Management Authority praising Shahbaz Sharif. Let us see how ECP reacts which is a clear violation of its orders.
Hurray! My money is saved! Wonder what PPP will do now? Play the victim card again.
Good decision. I hope it can also be implemented by ECP.
@Ch. Allah Daad: On that note, please do convey our condolences to PMLN leadership.
it is a right decision even if does not make any difference.
Oh no. Where will we be able to see shahbaz Sharif now?
Shahbaz Shreef will be upset with this decision
Never too late to do the right thing. Congratulations ECP. Now take back the money from political parties spent on party campaigns and promotions like recent full page Ads by the Government of Sindh.
Though already billion been smoked in such advertisement, but still its good decision.
Good move!
Five years too late.
Another massive acheivement of Imran Khan, Tsunami is coming to destroy Status Quo & Corrupts, Inshallah.
And how will you implement the ban and under what laws?
Awwwwww, what will happen to PMLN and PPP campaigns now?
Good. This was long overdue and should have been done years ago. Finally some sense prevailed.
Congratulations PTI..! Thankyou ECP..!
Excellent decision
This is a very good move. E.C.P. should also ban all advertisements, gatherings and processions funded by donation money which are collected in the name of hospitals and religion but are used for poltical purposes and self projection.
This is a very important and far reaching decision.Congratulations. The advertisement money should be spent on actual programmes Also CEC should ban the advertisement of Govt programmes which are waste and sort of buying favour of press. eg like recent FBR advertisements