–Chief secretary orders stern action against violators of ECP code of conduct
LAHORE: Section 144 has been imposed in the province from June 29 to July 28 in a bid to maintain law and order during the forthcoming elections. Under section 144, there would be a ban on display of arms, wall-chalking, misuse of loudspeaker and hate speech etc.
This was stated by Punjab additional chief secretary (Home) during a meeting, presided by the chief secretary, to review arrangements for general elections 2018. He also said that the step had been taken in wake of terror threats and possibility of clashes between political rivals.
Punjab Chief Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani, at the occasion, ordered the authorities to take stern action over violation of code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and added that the government servants, who had affiliations with political parties and those who remained absent from election duty would be punished.
The chief secretary said that holding free, fair and transparent elections was a priority and all possible cooperation would be extended to the ECP for achieving this objective.
He directed that a report regarding implementation of code of conduct and action over violation be submitted on regular basis and ordered the inspector general (prisons) to take necessary steps to enable prisoners to cast their vote.
He also issued instructions to the additional chief secretary (Home) to establish a central control room to monitor the polls.
The provincial election commissioner, at the occasion, briefed the meeting about polling stations, polling scheme and printing of ballot papers. He said that government servants could apply to returning officers of their constituency to get postal ballots.
He said that ECP would consider only those cases of transfers and postings that would be sent through the chief secretary.
Schools Education secretary told the meeting that show-cause notices had been served to 180 teachers in Lahore for being absent from election training. She said that the District Education Authority had been ordered to take action against those teachers under PEDA Act and added that lists of alternate teachers had also been submitted to ECP.
