ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s election regulator this week issued a code of conduct for security officials as the country heads toward national polls, urging them to remain “impartial and neutral” so that elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued its code of conduct on Friday weeks before millions of Pakistanis turn to ballot boxes to cast their votes and elect their representatives for the next five years.
Polls in the economically troubled South Asian country will take place on February 8, amid a surge in suicide blasts and militant attacks in Pakistan’s western provinces bordering Afghanistan, and allegations of pre-poll rigging.
Security personnel, who will be deployed outside polling stations on February 8, will be responsible for providing security for the printing and transport of ballot papers along with polling bags, the ECP said.
“[Security personnel should] remain impartial and neutral throughout the election process in general and during the voting process in particular, and shall not act in favor of or against any political party or candidate in any manner whatsoever,” the code of conduct stated.
The code of conduct also said security personnel would ensure that a peaceful and congenial environment is provided to the voters outside the polling stations so that they are neither intimidated nor prevented from voting in any manner whatsoever.
It said security personnel would follow the directions of the presiding officer to perform their duties and will provide security to the premises of the office of the returning officer till the results are not consolidated and safely deposited in polling bags to the ECP’s strong room.
The code of conduct further said security personnel will not be allowed to ask voters to prove their identity, adding that this is the polling officer’s prerogative.
The ECP said its code of conduct would be binding on security personnel part of law enforcement agencies, excluding armed forces and the civil armed forces. It said a separate code of conduct for these two forces would be issued.
Pakistan’s election exercise has been marred with allegations of pre-poll rigging and threats of harassment and intimidation, mainly by former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The PTI, who claims it is not being provided a “level playing field“— a euphemism for a fair chance in upcoming elections— says its founder and cricketer-turned-politician Khan has been entangled in a slew of legal cases as part of a plot to keep him away from elections.
Khan’s party said this month its candidates were not allowed to submit their nomination papers and some of them were kidnapped when they tried to take part in the electoral exercise.
Khan blames Pakistan’s powerful military, the ECP and the caretaker administration for colluding to keep him from power. All three have strongly denied his allegations and vowed to fulfill their constitutional role in ensuring polls are held peacefully and transparently in the country.
