No more giant ads: CDA sets up compliance cell

Cell will monitor billboards, posters to ensure compliance with ECP rules.

ISLAMABAD:

With the ruthless scrutiny of nomination papers ongoing, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has readied itself for effective implementation of the code of conduct for public campaigning set by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The authority has established a Campaign Compliance Cell for General Election 2013 under the administrative control of the Directorate of Municipal Administration following the directions of the Islamabad district returning officer.

The new cell has devised its own set of rules, which candidates running for the capital’s two national assembly seats will have to follow.

As the first step, the authority has issued notices warning the owners of large roadside hoardings not to sublet their facilities to election candidates or their supporters as the maximum size prescribed by the ECP for hoardings is 3 feet by 9 feet.

“Through notices, the CDA informed hoarding owners that their licenses will be cancelled if they rented out facilities for advertisement larger than the prescribed size,” DMA Deputy Director Hasan Rizvi informed The Express Tribune.



Rizvi, who is also heading up the campaign compliance cell, said the CDA would take action against advertisers that will facilitate candidates or political parties against the ECP’s prescribed rules, while separate complaints would be launched against candidate with the district returning officer.

Under ECP rules, no candidate or political party is allowed to affix posters, hoardings or banners larger than the sizes prescribed by the Election Commission. The prescribed size is 2 feet by 3 feet for posters, 3 feet by 5 feet for hoardings, 3 feet by 9 feet for banners and 9 inches by 6 inches for leaflets.

“A dedicated DMA team will also keep check on wall chalking, as it is prohibited in all forms under ECP rules,” Rizvi said.

When asked about resources in terms of manpower and machinery the authority has set aside for the cell, Rizvi said that the cell was using already-available resources, while admitting, “We are aware that it will be difficult for the CDA to cover the whole area under its municipal limits with the existing resources.” Rizvi said requests would be made for additional resources to effectively implement the code of conduct.

He said the campaign cell has formulated its own set of rules under which a candidate would be required to file an application on official letterhead to get permission for advertisements from the authority.

“No candidate or political party will be allowed to advertise at any specific location for more than 15 days,” Rizvi informed. He said a complaint register has been maintained for the registration of complaints by general public.

He said after complaint registration and verification by a CDA team, the district returning officer would be informed to take further action against the violator.

On Saturday, the CDA team removed banners for the All Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf because they were larger than the prescribed size, Rizvi informed.

CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz said it is mandatory for all political parties and candidates to abide by the laws, rules, regulations and directions issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan, adding that the campaign compliance cell would ensure the implementation of the ECP’s code of conduct.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2013.