The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday announced that candidates who were seeking votes on basis of religion and ethnicity would be sentenced to three years in prison.
The ECP, in a communiqué, said that prison terms would also be handed to candidates who used bribery as a means to gain votes. Three-year jail terms would also be awarded for casting fake votes and stopping others from voting, the ECP said.
Transporting individuals to polling stations other than family members was also prohibited; candidates found violating the rule would also be awarded three years jail terms.
Presiding officers were given-on-the spot authority to take action against those in violation of the laws and the police was given authority to arrest violators on election day.