In an attempt to eliminate the possibility of emotional blackmailing, the ECP provided this warning to all contesting parties. PHOTO: FILE
In an attempt to eliminate the possibility of emotional blackmailing, the ECP provided this warning to all contesting parties.
Earlier on Sunday, the ECP reminded political groupings and their candidates that they would strictly enforce the code of conduct in place for the 2013 general elections. It called upon all contestants to refrain from eliciting votes “on the basis of religion, sect, caste or ethnicity”, citing a specific provision in the 46-clause code of conduct.
Clause 19 says “political parties, contesting candidates and their supporters shall not propagate against the participation of any person in the elections on the basis of gender, ethnicity, religion or caste”.
The poll body has also strengthened the security of polling stations.
Trying to reduce the external influence on voters, the commission announced that candidates, lawmakers and polling staff who criticise or elevate any political party in front of voters within the premises of polling station will be put behind bars.
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Good move by PSC. It may be symbolic in its context but still it conveys a message. Muslims the world over, especially in countries where they are minorities, want Pakistan to stabilise so that Islam will get a good name.
May Allah bless Pakistan!
thats so funny by ECP.......now the candidates will be so scared to use ethnicity to gain votes
Good move, but not sure how strongly it will be enforced. Why not start be eliminating all religiously affiliated parties.... they certainly don't seem to have Pakistan's best interest at heart....but then again at this moment in time, who actually does, save a select few?
This is the biggest joke of them all. While J. Islami, JU Islam, and Sunni party candiates are allowed to contest the elections the ECP now talks about against the use of religion! Who are we fooling? The rightwing parties openly supporting the surrender to extremist TTP are the darlings of establishment and here they are making laws to make it a crime!
Pakistan is one of the three countries in the world that calls itself an Islamic Republic. The other two being Iran and Afghanistan.
Pakistan is the only country in the world that has its Capital City named after Islam...... Islamabad.
Yet, Pakistani muslims have the least knowledge of Islam. ECP has exposed this. For them they are one of the five pillars of Islam. Others being, either Afia, Ajmal, Afzal and OBL or Shabana, Shahrukh, Saif and Emraan.
Follow Turkish / Malaysian style .... No one is allowed to disclose his/her association and liberty to hold any political affiliation.
Add the word "PTI" in your comments to get more recommendations/likes
PTI ad starts with Imran praying in a masjid. Will Imran goto jail?
Never thought this lofty Act could be brought into the system so easily. Bravo ECP!
I mean with so many different sects, beliefs, races and origins when all & each of them calling their's the most perfect one, why not just hold your self-praise from emotional blackmailing of voters and let them see your real talent plus your political agenda, than "where you are coming from" and "what you look like" & "who's Son are you". Merit has to start from somewhere, and this will be a great beginning.
@Gp65: I am quite aware of the situation in Pakistan but the comment was made to see the reaction.
@Afghan Maihan: Kindly tell this fact to Imran Khan and to all of the Niazis and Durranis of Punjab who are the Most racist people of Punjab and they are always involved in making fun of Punjabi and Urdu Speakers of Punjab based on Color and boast themselves as Aryans and White Blood. Also kindly study the Book of Imran Khan which is totally racist in my view where Imran Khan boasted about his Blood and his Race and call himself Superior based on his Physical Features..
Here is the Link of the Book written by One and Only Imran Khan and after reading this book you will be astonished that Concepts like Democracy and Modern Civilization are actually Alien to Our So called Leader. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Warrior-journey-through-Tribal-Pathans/dp/0701138904
How many years to ECP officials if violates own rules???
If this ECP rule was enforced in 1945-46 provincial elections in British India, Qaida-e-Azam Jinnah would have instead become a Qaidi-for-life.
If the law makers and Election Commission wanted to be fair to all they should have scrapped 62/63 criteria in the first place.
Stupid Decision.
@Afghan Maihan: Shami didnt say khan is pashtun. He is talking about PTI slogan.
How much budget does ECP have? Please dont make your job too complicated and let the voters learn it the hard way, they will give emotional vote this time but if the candidates/parties fail to keep their promises there is a chance they wont get the vote in next election.
@Enlightened: The constitution itself is not secular plus Pakistan has a state religion - how then can it be secular? Also unlike we Indians Pakistanis do not think secularism is a good thing so they need not worry that this step to facilitate fair elections will not make them secular.
This is going to be a tough ride for those who use Islam as a garb for political gains but on the other hand I would disagree with myself after digesting the manisfesto of the islamists released in the last couple of days in the form of "Point Agenda". Their manisfestos and policies are no different from those who wear the liberal or "We are free" hat over their heads. This whole hu ha is nothing more than bring life to the dying system and building false hopes in the people that they are going to see some form of a change post 11th May. I say forget the whole thing, chose another way and as they say "where there's a will, there's a way". Only the will need to be decided, either we stick to the colonial rule or we have own way stemming from our creed. I am very hopeful for the real change and I hope you are too....
you cannot eliminate ethnicity. Ethnicity is one of the ways our society is organized. It is also the marker through which domination, regulation and deprivation prevails. by depoliticizing ethnicity, the state would do nothing but allow the unmarked and dominant ethnicity to become the unquestioned norm. are you telling me that the fact that you are a Baluchi or Pashtun in Pakistan has nothing to do with how resources are distributed and who counts and who does not. Are the people of Lahore, who mostly happen to be Punjabis, equal to Pashtuns of tribal areas?
and what about Christians and Hindus, or Ahmedis who are persecuted in the name of religion. so they can't mobilize their religious cohorts to protest against religious oppression.
By the way who are these election commission people. and what about the returning officers who are bent on questioning candidates on their faith? that is not religious, I guess. why don't you start by getting rid of objective resolution and the Zia's corruption in the constitution. what a lopsided country this is. it would have been funny, if it had not been that serious.
@Babloo we are not to stick to our history, we have to be a progressive nation. and the time calls us to abandon all the differences in the society and unite to form a Pakistan that can survive in today's world. This is something positive from the ECP and hope this gets rid of all the ethnic politics played by MQM and some separatist fractions in Balochistan politics. and we also need to get rid of parties such as JI or JUI, because If they want to govern Pakistan than they should be talking about the national interests rather than interests of individual religion or ethnic group.
Good one.... just like no more fake degrees and clear FBR records...
Good Decision! At least people will not emotionally blackmailed.
Stepping stone towards separation of state and religion?
@Enlightened: You mean the secular government on Muslims subjects?
If this law was followed there would be no Pakistan and Jinnah would have been sentenced to jail for life.
Was this country not secured for religious basis "Pakistan ka Matlab Kia, La Illa ha illallah" Even the name Pakistan means .......country for Pure people considering "Non Muslims" impure........No?
New joke after blank box i=on ballet paper...
Why jail term for candidates of a party? Why not just BAN EVERY party based on ethnicity or religion?
When there was a ban on using religion every secular was dancing. but when there is a ban on using ethnicity, seculars are angry now. You can't explain that
Excellent decision. So proud of you ECP. Weed out the extremists who sell Islam to gain votes and in turn transform us into a hate mongering, paranoia stricken people. Bravo ECP.
@Shaami
Imran Khan is not Pashtun, just because his mother was a non-Pashto speaking Pashtun does not make him a Pashtun and he does not speak Pashto.
Please first disqualify Maulana Fazl u Rehman
Secularism from back door.
Excellent decision. But not possible to implement!!
Shame on ECP.
Good decision if they can implement it.
This is a good news which makes Pakistan a secular country.
Great job
A great step by the ECP towards a change.
Yet another unimplementable action by ECP. this is becoming a joke after the silly questions on article 62 and 63.
This means all Parties are going to get a ban then. From Karachi, Lahore to Khyber we all know that Ethnicity and Tribes along with Religion play a vital role in garnering votes and no party is free from that. Even PTI who are calling for change are using the slogan " Kehta Har Pukhtoon Hai, Imran Hamara Khoon Hai" in KPK and in Parts of Mianwali to show the Race connection to compel people to get votes.