The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday issued a code of conduct for political parties and candidates for local government elections for the positions of chairmen, vice chairmen, mayors and deputy mayors in Punjab.
According to the ECP, there will be a complete ban on carrying mobile phones into the premises of polling stations on December 22, which will be ensured by the returning officer (RO) at the station.
According to the code of conduct, “The returning officer will take personal pains to ensure secrecy of vote on the poll date and in case the same is breached upon, immediate legal action will be taken as per Section 55 or 56 of the Punjab Local Government Act, 2013.”
Under the code of conduct, no MNA or MPA will be permitted to visit polling stations by the RO. Any violation of the same will call for punitive action against the violators and the RO.
Similarly, each district returning officer (DRO) will ensure foolproof security arrangements at least one day before the poll day.
No unauthorized persons will be permitted to enter the outer gate of those buildings that have been declared to be polling stations.
“There will be strict observance of the code of conduct and any violation thereof will be immediately reported by the RO concerned to the DRO concerned,” the release said.