In a first for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), political parties have been given a formidable ultimatum regarding the commission’s prescribed, but historically ignored, ‘code of conduct’: follow it or face disqualification and even a prison term.
The commission approved a draft of the code of conduct for the general elections at a meeting headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G Ebrahim on Wednesday. The code states that violations of its provisions “amount either to corrupt practice or illegal practice, which are punishable under the law.”
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, canvassing guidelines, ban on advertisement at the expense of the public exchequer, and instructions for polling day itself.
While talking to the media after the meeting, the CEC expressed hope that judicial officers would be allowed to perform a role in holding elections.
While a code of conduct has been previously prescribed by the ECP, this year it carries new provisions – including the decision to punish its violation, a senior official of the election body told The Express Tribune.
“If allegations against any candidate are proved, then the ECP will have the authority to disqualify him either prior to elections or after the elections. In addition, the accused will have to face a jail term (according to the law),” the official said.
He added that the CEC is set to embark upon a countrywide tour starting from Balochistan in November wherein he will hold meetings with political parties and other stakeholders.
Provisions of code
According to the draft, “Political parties and candidates 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 the maintenance of public order, or the integrity or independence of the judiciary of Pakistan, or which defames or brings into ridicule the judiciary or the Armed Forces of Pakistan, as provided under Article 63 of the Constitution.”
It adds that political parties and candidates shall restrain their workers from exerting undue pressure on the print and electronic media, including newspaper offices and printing presses, or resorting to violence of any kind against the media.
It further says that holders of public office, including the president and prime minister, shall not combine their official visits with the election campaign. This provision will also be applicable to the caretaker setup. In addition, local government functionaries and representatives shall not announce any development scheme or do anything which tends to influence the results of an election in favour or against a particular candidate or political party.
The political parties contesting candidates and their supporters shall not indulge in offering gifts or gratifications or inducement to any person to stand or not to stand as a candidate, or to withdraw or not to withdraw his candidature.
Political parties, contesting candidates and their supporters may announce their overall development programme, but not after the announcement of the election schedule till the day of polling. In addition, no candidate or any person on his behalf will give or promise to give any subscription or donation to any institution.
The political parties contesting candidates and their supporters shall refrain from speeches calculated to arouse parochial and sectarian feelings and controversy of conflicts between genders, sects, communities and linguistic groups.
Candidates and their supporters shall refrain from deliberate dissemination of false and malicious information. The workers of political parties shall not indulge in forgeries and disinformation to defame other political parties or leaders.
The political parties contesting candidates and their supporters or other persons shall not encourage formal or informal agreements barring women from becoming candidates or exercising their right of vote.
Criticism of other political parties and opponent candidates cannot target anyone’s private life.
In addition, travelling and daily allowances for the polling staff has been doubled.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2012.
The code of conduct released by ECP can be read here
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