ISLAMABAD: In order to ensure free and fair polling in the Senate elections tomorrow (Saturday), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a code of conduct on Friday, violation of which will lead to a fine of up to Rs100,000 and a jail term of up to two years.
According to the code of conduct, no one would be allowed to carry mobile phones in the polling stations i.e. assembly buildings, while the assembly members would only be allowed inside if they will be carrying their secretariat cards.
Moreover, the code of conduct also asks the MNAs and MPAs to ensure the secrecy of their votes. They have also been asked to handle the ballot paper with care so as to not spoil it.
An action would be taken against anyone using a fake ballot paper; while there will be a complete ban on taking it outside the polling station, the ECP has stated.
According to ECP, the returning officer would be given the authority of a level one magistrate under which he or she would be able to announce a punishment immediately after carrying out a summary trial against the violators.
The returning officer would also have the authority to cancel a ballot paper and immediately announce a punishment if it is being handed to an unauthorised person.
The punishment for violating the code of conduct includes a fine of up to Rs100,000 and/or a jail term of six months and two years.
On the suggestion of returning officers, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary personnel will be deployed outside the assemblies.
SENATE ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY:
The Senate Elections will be held on Saturday where one hundred and thirty-five candidates will contest for fifty-two Senate seats, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), reports Radio Pakistan.
12 Senators each from Punjab and Sindh, 11 members each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, four lawmakers from FATA, and two members from the federal capital will be elected.
Polling process will be started from 0900 and continued till 0400 in the afternoon.
The ECP, in a review meeting, has taken several decisions to ensure vote privacy during the elections.
The Commission decided that returning officers will ensure that no voter exposes his vote’s privacy and neither be allowed to take issued ballot paper outside the polling station and in case of non-compliance the returning officer will cancel the ballot paper of such persons.
It was also decided that all returning officers will have powers of the full magistrate and they can suspend the electoral process by bringing such elements to ECP’s notice in case of irregularity.
Rangers or FC personnel will also be deputed outside the polling stations.
