No ballot marketing campaign after February 6 midnight: ECP

“In keeping with Part 182 of the Elections Act 2017, no individual shall maintain or take part in any public assembly, procession, nook assembly or such political exercise after 12 midnight on February 6, 2024 and February 7, 2024,” native media quoted ECP’s spokesperson as saying.

“Subsequently, authorized motion can be taken in opposition to any one that violates the above provision of the regulation,” the spokesperson added.

The polling is slated for February 8.

In the meantime, caretaker Federal Minister for Communications Maritime Affairs and Railways Shahid Ashraf Tarar, who’s the convener of the committee constituted by the prime minister to supervise the preparations for the final elections 2024, referred to as on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja on the Election Fee Secretariat in Islamabad to temporary him on the preparations of the federal and provincial governments for elections.

Code of conduct for safety personnel

Final week, the ECP issued its “Code of Conduct for Safety Personnel”, warning them in opposition to bias whereas being on election responsibility.

The ECP’s protocol, which excludes the armed forces and civil armed forces, directs the regulation enforcement businesses (LEAs) to carry out their duties in accordance with the regulation and throughout the confines of the mandate assigned to the police.

Safety personnel — who will present safety for the printing and transport of poll papers together with the polling baggage — will carry out their duties underneath Article 220 of the Structure of Pakistan, Part 5 learn with Part 193 of the Election Act, 2017.

Directing the safety equipment to cooperate with district returning officers (DROs), returning officers (ROs) and presiding officers (POs), the electoral physique has confused the necessity for LEAs to “stay neutral and impartial all through the election course of […] and shall not act in favour of or in opposition to any political celebration or candidate in any method by any means”.

Underscoring the importance of guaranteeing a peaceable and clear polling course of, the ECP has warned safety personnel in opposition to disallowing a voter to solid his/her vote.