ECP issues code of conduct for Senate polls

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued a code of conduct for the upcoming Senate polls, prohibiting political parties, candidates, voters, and election agents from propagating in any manner prejudicial to the glory of Islam, the ideology of Pakistan, its sovereignty, integrity, or security.

Likewise, they have been asked to refrain from propagating any opinion or act against morality, public order, or the integrity or independence of the parliament, judiciary, or which defames or brings into ridicule the parliament, judiciary, or the armed forces of Pakistan.

“The political parties, candidates, voters, and election agents shall abide by all directions and instructions issued by the election commission, from time to time, relating to the smooth conduct of elections as defined in Sections 4 and 8 of the Elections Act, 2017, and refrain from maligning the election commission in any form whatsoever,” says the code.

“Violation whereof may entail contempt as contemplated in Section 10 of the Elections Act 2017 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’). The political parties, contesting candidates, election agents, and voters shall not indulge in any kind of corrupt or illegal practice (as defined in Chapter X of the Elections Act 2017),” the code reads. The code says that contesting candidates, election agents, and their supporters shall not solicit the support or assistance of any person in the service of Pakistan or any public office to promote or hinder the election of a contesting candidate in any manner.

Similarly, any person in the service of Pakistan shall not promote or hinder the election of a contesting candidate in any manner or render support to any candidate in any form whatsoever.

“The president and governors of the provinces shall not take part in the election campaign relating to the election to the Senate in any manner whatsoever and shall not use their respective offices as well as houses in connection therewith,” it emphasises.

While entering the polling station, the code makes it binding that each voter shall ensure that he or she does not possess a mobile phone or other electronic device or gadget that can be used to take a photograph of the marked ballot paper.

For purposes of election expenses, the candidate shall open an exclusive account or dedicate an existing bank account with any branch of a scheduled bank before the date fixed for scrutiny of nomination papers and maintain, or cause to be maintained, a register of receipts and expenditures:

“A candidate shall not make any transaction towards the election expenses through an account other than the account opened or dedicated for the purpose; and b. A candidate may open or dedicate the bank account for election expenses with an amount not exceeding the limit of election expenses provided under Section 132 of the Elections Act, 2017. Provided that if a candidate intends to use his or her existing account for the purpose, he or she shall submit a statement of account to the returning officer at the time of filing of nomination papers,” the code says.

The returned candidates, it directs, shall submit their return of election expenses to the returning officer on Form C within five days from the date of the election under subsection (3) of Section 123 of the Act, whereas other contesting candidates shall submit their election expenses on Form C to the returning officer within 30 days of the publication of the names of the returned candidates as required under Section 134 of the act. The election commission said the code has been issued in pursuance of Article 218(3) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, read with Section 233 of the Elections Act, 2017, and all other powers enabling it on that behalf.