Action ordered against mayors, UC chairmen involved in electioneering

Expressing concerns over the situation of mayors and UC chairmen being involved in election campaigns, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Sindh, has ordered taking action against those found involved in such activities.

Officials said that reports have been received by the ECP Sindh regarding the involvement of mayors, UC chairmen and other officials of the local government being involved in political activities, following which the regional election commissioners and regional monitoring coordinators have been ordered to take action in accordance with the law.

The order issued by the ECP Sindh, with the subject ‘Violation of Code of Conduct of General Elections 2024’, reads: “It is to inform you that some complaints are coming from different corners that the mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen, deputy chairmen of different local government councils are participating and misusing their office resources in the election campaigns of the contesting candidates.

“This is clear violation of Para 18 of the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan for the conduct of the General Elections 2024.

“You are, therefore, directed to strictly observe this violation of code of conduct in your respective jurisdictions, take legal action and send audio/visual proofs and documentary evidence, if any, to this office for further necessary action.”

The order’s copies have also been moved to the provincial monitoring coordinator, the joint provincial election commissioner (admin), the chief secretary, the LG secretary, the inspector general of police (IGP), the commissioners, the deputy inspectors general of police, the deputy commissioners, the district returning officers and the senior superintendents of police.

Earlier, the ECP had issued a code of conduct for security personnel deployed for general elections duties, and directed the CS and the IGP to strictly implement the orders issued.

The order issued by the ECP reads: “The security personnel belonging to law enforcement agencies, excluding the armed forces and the civil armed forces (for whom a separate code of conduct is being issued), deputed on election duty for the General Elections 2024 shall perform their duties in accordance with the law and within the confines of the mandate assigned to the police, or as the case may be, and the other security personnel to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan in the conduct of free, fair, transparent and peaceful GE 2024 by deploying and providing security personnel outside all polling stations to secure the environment for the maintenance of law and order, the security of printing presses during the printing of ballot papers, security during the transportation of the ballot papers from the printing presses to the office of the returning officers.

“Moreover, the security personnel shall provide security to the presiding officers during the transportation of the polling bags from the offices of the returning officers to the polling stations, security during the transportation of the election material to the RO offices after the completion of polling and counting at the polling stations until the receipt of record in the offices of the returning officers, during tabulation, the announcement of the provisional results and the consolidation of the results by the returning officers.

“The personnel shall perform their functions under Article 220 of the Constitution of Pakistan, Section 5, read with Section 193 of the Election Act, 2017.

“Each gazetted officer of the law enforcement agency shall exercise the powers delegated to them through a notification to be issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan in terms of Section 193 of the Elections Act, 2017, cooperate with the district returning officers, returning officers and presiding officers concerned, as required under Section 83(4) of the Elections Act, 2017, and shall also assist the presiding officers in the smooth and effective discharge of his/her lawful duties, as it is the primary responsibility of the presiding officers to keep order at the polling stations, and may remove and cause to be removed any person who misconducts himself/herself at the polling stations or fails to obey any lawful orders of the presiding officers.

“They shall remain impartial and neutral throughout the election process in general, and during the voting process in particular, and shall not act in favour of or against any political party or candidate in any manner whatsoever, and render their fullest cooperation to the presiding officer for the maintenance of order and for ensuring uninterrupted voting at the polling station.”

They were also directed to observe politeness, display immaculate behaviour in dealing with voters and polling staff, while remaining firm and just in dealing in accordance with the law while addressing any given situation.

They were also asked to assist in guiding them outside the polling station in case of any confusion or untoward situation; ensure that peaceful, congenial, safe and conducive environment is provided to the voters outside the polling stations, and voters are neither intimidated nor prevented from voting in any manner whatsoever.

The order also stressed frisking and checking each voter before they enter the premises of the polling station to ensure that no person can bring with himself/herself any weapon or explosive or any other undesirable item, including mobile phones, which can sabotage the polling process; and facilitating voters and ensuring that they are properly queued.

Moreover, added the order, the elderly, transgender persons, pregnant women, women with infants and voters with disabilities are entitled to prioritised dealing. Officials have been ordered to exclusively concentrate on ensuring peaceful and transparent polling process while performing duties outside the polling station, and to follow the directions of the presiding officer in performing their duties.