ISAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a 49-point code of conduct for political parties and candidates for the upcoming general elections.
According to Radio Pakistan, Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmad told media on Wednesday that the code of conduct would be sent to political parties for revision and feedback to further improve the current draft.
The code of conduct was adopted at a meeting of the Commission chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G Ibrahim.
The code of conduct restricts political parties and candidates from propagating any opinion, or act in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan, or the sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan. It further restricts them from propagating anything prejudicial to morality, or the maintenance of public order, or the integrity or independence of the judiciary or which defames or brings into ridicule the judiciary or the Armed Forces of Pakistan, as provided under Article 63 of the Constitution.
Ahmad added that if candidates violate the code of conduct, they would be liable to disqualification.
Elaborating on the salient features of the code of conduct, Ahmad said that there will be a complete ban on the exhibition of weapons on election day. No candidate will be allowed to give comments on the personality of his opponent as part of their election campaign.
The code of conduct covers specifications for political rallies and public meetings, as well as the size and form of advertising including hoardings and billboards.
All arrangements for staging elections will be finalised by December 31, 2012.
The code of conduct released by ECP can be read here.
COMMENTS (5)
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There is nothing exciting in the new code of conduct/rules of ECP, except display of arms and that too only on the election day.
Why not ECP made a rule that during political rallies, display or carrying arms is prohibited, otherwise the candidate will stand disqualified.
At least in this way the political parties would have refrain of displaying and use of arms which would have saved many human lives.
Good luck to ECP
Lets not ridicule ECP's code of conduct aimed at ensuring fair and credible elections. It is time to back up the commission and report on any violation of the code at the time of elections to ensure that the code is implemented in letter and spirit. Good luck to ECP
There is no use of ECP because of the following
a) It failed to check massive rigging in 2008 elections b) Convicted and criminals are holding key public positions however they are not disqualified despite of clear violations of the constitution c) A person having 10 years in jail is leading two offices simultaneously party head ,state head and supreme leader of armed forces.