ECP rules out polls taking place this year
PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday announced that it had convened a meeting with political parties on October 4 to discuss the code of conduct for the upcoming general polls, which it ruled out taking place this year, citing the need for fresh delimitation of constituencies following the notification of the 2023 digital census.
According to an ECP statement, the session with the political parties was being held in accordance with Section 233 of the Elections Act, 2017.
It further read that the draft of the code of conduct had been provided to the leaders of the political parties in advance, allowing them to provide feedback more effectively during the consultation.
A copy of the draft code of conduct has also been uploaded on the commission’s website www.ecp.gov.pk.
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The statement read that the October 4 meeting follows separate meetings between the ECP and political parties on the electoral roadmap amid disagreements over the timeframe for the polls.
According to an 88-page code of conduct issued by the ECP for the upcoming general elections, the president, prime minister, ministers or any other public office holders shall not participate in the polls campaign in any manner.
However, the members of Senate and local government are allowed to participate in the election campaign but they will strictly abide by the code of conduct, directions, instructions and regulations issued by the ECP and “violations thereof shall entail legal consequences including contempt proceedings as contemplated in Section 10 of the Elections Act, 2017”.
There will be a ban on political parties, candidates, and their supporters announcing or inaugurating development schemes.
“The political parties, contesting candidates and election agents shall not propagate any opinion, or act in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan, or the sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan, or morality or public order, or the integrity or independence of the judiciary of Pakistan, or which defames or brings into ridicule any government institution including the judiciary and the armed forces of Pakistan,” the draft read.
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The parties and candidates will not give bribes, gifts or inducements.
The parties shall ensure at least 5% representation of female candidates.
There will be a ban on running political and election campaigns from government funds.
Biased coverage on official media will be banned.
Permission for political parties to hold gatherings will be subject to the administration’s permission.
The use of government resources in an election campaign will be prohibited.
The code of conduct read that contesting candidates, election agents and their supporters shall refrain from speeches intended to “arouse parochial, ethnic and sectarian feelings and controversy of conflicts” between genders, sects, communities and linguistic groups.
It added that there would be a complete ban on carriage and display of all kinds of weapons and fire arms in public meetings and processions as well as on the polling day.
No protest or sit-in will be allowed in front of any citizen's house.
A candidate can appoint three election agents for each polling booth.
The election agent must be from the concerned constituency.
The draft read that the flags of political parties would be banned on government properties.
It continued that the final code of conduct would be issued after consultation with all political parties.