Mardan leads with 211 code violations

A total of 986 violations of the electoral code of conduct by candidates have been observed across various districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The monitoring teams of the Election Commission of Pakistan identified these infractions, subsequently imposing fines on the erring candidates.

Official sources reveal that Mardan emerged at the forefront of this list, bearing witness to 211 violations, closely trailed by Malakanad Division with 177 breaches.

Read Code of conduct for elections to be reviewed today

An official from the provincial election commission conveyed, “Election Commission has constituted teams to monitor any violation in the election campaign by the candidates in each district who are regularly visiting different parts in their respective districts.”

These monitoring teams have been engaged in scrutinizing election campaigns, ensuring compliance with the established code of conduct. The fines collected from candidates for these transgressions have amounted to over Rs3 lakh.

As part of the disciplinary measures, 75 notices have been issued by the monitoring teams, with 41 candidates receiving warnings. In Peshawar Division, fines totaling Rs20,000 have been collected, and in Malakand Division, a sum of Rs1.2 lakh has been collected from the candidates who violated the code.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2024.