Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued a code of conduct to ensure free and fair elections for the Upper House of parliament, violation of which will lead to a fine of up to Rs 100,000 and imprisonment term of up to two years. A meeting to review the preparations presided over by ECP secretary was held at its secretariat. It was agreed that on the suggestion of returning officers, Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary personnel will be deployed outside the assemblies. Printing of ballot papers has already been complete and a total of 4,150 ballot papers including 1,600 for Punjab, 800 for Sindh, 600 for KP, 300 for Balochistan, 800 for Islamabad and 50 for FATA have been handed over to their respective returning officers. Polling process will start at 0900 and continue till 0400 in the afternoon. The code of conduct issued by the ECP bars the members from carrying mobile phones inside the polling stations, while only those assembly members would be allowed inside who will have their secretariat cards with them. The code of conduct further advises the MNAs and MPAs to ensure the secrecy of their votes. They have been asked to handle the ballot paper with care so as to not spoil it. The ECP has clarified that strict action will be taken against anyone using fake ballot paper while there will be complete ban on taking the ballot paper outside the polling station. “The returning officer would be given the authority of a level one magistrate under which he or she would be able to announce a punishment immediately after carrying out a summary trial against the violators,” the ECP stated. The returning officer would also have the authority to cancel a ballot paper and immediately announce a punishment if it is being handed to an unauthorised person. The punishment for violating the code of conduct includes a fine of up to Rs 100,000 and/or a jail term of six months to two years.

Published in Daily Times, March 3^rd 2018.