The violators of the code will be taken into custody for 10 days without being sent to jail
\nISLAMABAD : The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has prepared amendments to tighten the rules in connection with the code of conduct for the polls.
\nAccording to the documents, violation of the election code of conduct and non-payment of fines will result in confiscation of properties.
\nThe commission has proposed important changes in the Election Rules.
\nAccording to the proposal, those who violate the code may be arrested for non-payment of fine and their properties be auctioned off.
\nThe violators of the code will be taken into custody for 10 days without being sent to jail.
\nIf they still do not pay the fine within 10 days, they will be sent to jail for a month, according to the proposed rule.
\nIf the fine is not paid despite being sent to jail, their immovable properties can be seized and auctioned off.
\nThe proposed rule states that non-payment of fines will attract penalties under the Land Revenue Act, 1967.
\nThe district returning officer will be able to impose penalties under Section 80 of the Act. The ECP had recently amended the electoral rules \u2013 making it mandatory for every polling agent to be a voter of the respective constituency of any assembly where an election was taking place on a general seat.
\nFor this purpose, the electoral body had notified the insertion of an additional provision in Rule 58 of the Election Rules, 2017.
\nThis rule stated: \u201cThe number of polling agents appointed at a polling station by each contesting candidate under Section 77 shall not exceed the number of booths set up at that polling station.\u201d
\nThe new provision inserted by the ECP, after the existing one, read: \u201cProvided that the polling agent or agents so appointed under Section 77 shall be the voter of the constituency.\u201d
\nSection 77 (1) of the Elections Act provides that \u201cthe contesting candidate or their election agent may, before the commencement of or during the poll, appoint for each polling station as many polling agents as may be prescribed and shall give notice in writing to the presiding officer communicating the appointment\u201d.
\nSection 239 of the Elections Act 239 empowers the ECP to make rules.
\nIt read: \u201c (1) The commission may, by notification in the official gazette and publication on the website of the commission, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this act. (2) The commission shall make the rules under Subsection (1) subject to prior publication and after hearing and deciding objections or suggestions filed within fifteen days of the publication.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The violators of the code will be taken into custody for 10 days without being sent to jail ISLAMABAD : The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has prepared amendments to tighten the rules in connection with the code of conduct for the polls. According to the documents, violation of the election code of conduct and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-303438","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n