News
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
ECP bans public office holders’ visit to constituencies* Bulk transfers/postings of civil servants barred after issuance of poll schedule
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: In order to make general elections 2013 transparent, the Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday issued fresh code of conduct for the public office holders for strict observance and said that violators be tried under the law.
An ECP order issued on Tuesday stated that it is the duty of the commission to organise and conduct elections and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that it is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law and that corrupt practices are guarded against. The order said that the executive authorities in the federation and in the provinces shall not use state resources anywhere in the country for unfair advantage of a particular candidate or \political party nor exercise undue influence affecting the interest of a candidate or party for participating in any election to be held hereinafter.
If any person in the service of Pakistan misuses official position in any manner calculated to influence the result of the election, he would be tried by a court of sessions, as contemplated under Section 95 of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 and, if found guilty of the offence, would be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both under Section 92 of the Act.
The directive read that bulk transfers/postings of the civil servants shall not be made after the issuance of schedule of election till the completion thereof. Individual transfers/postings of civil servants shall also not be made after the issuance of schedule of election except under exceptional circumstances, in exigency of service and in public interest, with prior approval of the election commission.
After the issuance of schedule of general elections, the president, prime minister/chairman/Senate deputy chairman, federal minister, ministers of state, governors, chief ministers, provincial ministers and adviser to the prime minister and the chief ministers and other public office holders will neither visit the area of any constituency nor shall openly or in secret give any subscription or donation or make promise for giving such subscription or donation to any institution of a constituency, nor shall inaugurate, commit to undertake or announce any development project therein for the advancement of the campaign of a candidate of his choice and thereby influence the results of election.
The prime minister, chief ministers, federal ministers, state ministers, advisers to the president and the prime minister, provincial ministers and advisers to the chief ministers or any person on their behalf shall not visit the constituency or a polling station after the issuance of schedule of election till the completion of poll. If any of the public office holders is found to have misused his official position to influence the result of an election in any manner whatsoever, legal action shall be taken against such person in accordance with law under section 103A of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, relating to contempt proceedings.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk