The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued the code of conduct for the bye-elections on two provincial assembly seats — PP-83 Khushab and PP-90 Bhakkar — in Sargodha region.
Regional Election Commissioner Sargodha Division Amir Javed told APP here on Friday that the ECP was duty-bound to take measures to conduct a fair and free by-elections. He said that according to the code of conduct, provision of level play field for all contesting candidates without any discrimination would be ensured.
The regional election commissioner said that under Clause No 25 of the ECP law, contesting candidates, election agents and their supporters would refrain from speeches intended to arouse parochial, sectarian feelings and controversy of conflicts between genders, sects, communities and linguistic groups.
Amir Javed also said that in Clause No 45 of the code of conduct, criticism of other political parties and opponent candidates would be confined to their policies and programmes, past record and work.
All parties must avoid criticising the character and personal life of the opponents.
Amir Javed urged all parties and their candidates to cooperate with the election commission to make the election free and transparent.
He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan had also issued a warning to a contesting candidate Malik Muhammad Asif Bhaa Awan over violation of the rules and regulations.
Meanwhile, DEC alloted symbols to candidates contesting in PP-97 by-polls
As per the details, the District Election Commissioner-I/Returning Officer PP-97-Faisalabad-I Basil Akram has allotted election symbols to candidates contesting for by-polls in PP-97.
According to a notification, Rizwan Liaqat (Independent candidate) had been allotted the symbol of table, Sher Afghan (Independent) with cricket stumps, Tariq Mahmood (Independent) charpoy, Ali Ahmed (Jamat-e-Islami) scale, Ali Afzal Sahi (PTI) bat, Fawad Ahmed Cheema (Independent) lock, Muhammad Asif Aziz (Independent) parachute, Muhammad Ajmal (PML-N) lion, Muhammad Sohaib Aslam (Pakistan Nazeiyati Party) railway engine, Muhammad Amir Nawaz (Independent) goat, Naveed Shafee (Tehreek Labbaik) allotted the symbol of crane and Wasim Akram (Independent) allotted ox.
The polling would be held on July 17 from 8am to 5pm.
