| ECP code of conduct to be put into practice during by-elections |
ISLAMABAD The code of conduct that was issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last month for general elections, has been put in practice for the by-elections for NA-51 Multan seat where former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s son Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani is contesting on the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) ticket against independent candidate Shuakat Bosan, supported by the opposition’s major parties.
The PPP has complained that the acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), who had been in the bench of the Supreme Court that adjudicated against the PPP, became acting CEC on the orders of the honourable chief justice of Pakistan. The same issued notification of de-seating Gilani and now the code of conduct issued for the next general elections has been put in place for the by-elections.
Sources in the ruling PPP said that the purpose of the enforcement of the code was to create difficulties for the voters especially of the PPP’s so that the turnover could be got down.
Since the poor voters mostly belong to the PPP and they cannot afford to reach the polling station in Multan, the provincial administration and the whole machinery are providing full support to the so-called independent candidate, and hurdles are being created in the way of the landslide victory of the PPP candidate, the sources said.
The sources said that the violators of the code would be sentenced to three years in prison with heavy fine. According to new code of conduct, the ECP has imposed complete ban on wall chalking and loudspeaker’s usage.
The ECP also imposed ban on establishing political camps outside the polling office on the polling day, hoisting of flags on government installations and using vehicles for voters’ transportation by the candidates were also banned.
Internews
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