KARACHI, April 25: The caretaker provincial government has planned an ‘All-Party Conference’ by the end of this month to deliberate on implementation of the code of conduct and seek input of political parties regarding their election campaign in order to ensure peaceful holding of free, fair and transparent elections in an impartial manner, it emerged on Thursday.

Some 50 parties are being extended invitation to the conference expected to be convened on April 30, sources said.

A decision in this regard was taken at a last week meeting held to review law and order situation. At the meeting, which was held at the CM House, Chief Secretary Mohammad Aijaz Chaudhry highlighted the need to involve political leadership in the implementation of the code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan for the 2013 general elections.

The chief secretary at a recent meeting with European Union election observers’ mission also mentioned the plan of APC to seek input of the political leadership for maintaining peaceful atmosphere during the election.

The code of conduct of the ECP had been prepared in the light of suggestions given by political parties after consultation with the Senate special committee.

The main features of the code of conduct included not to put up party flags on public property or public place without having a written permission, nor the party would hoist flags, party banners or posters on any private property without first obtaining its permission from its owner, use of loudspeaker would be banned except public meetings, posters, banners and hoardings cannot be displayed beyond a certain size.

According to the code of conduct, the posters, hoardings and banners put up by any political parties would not be removed by workers of any other party and nor they would stop workers of any other party from distributing handbills and booklets among people.

Sources privy to the APC plan told Dawn that the home department had been geared up for the purpose where strategy had been finalised not only to protect political leaders and candidates but also voters.

Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said that law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) are taking action against criminal elements under three categories — terrorism, targeted killing and kidnapping for ransom — in order to maintain peace, adds PPI.

He expressed these views while taking to the participants in Staff Course of Command and Staff College, Quetta, who called on him at Governor’s House.

He informed the delegation of officers that arrested criminals belonged to defunct parties and groups. He said raids were conducted in a manner that no innocent citizen was harassed.

He said the criminals arrested in heinous crimes have already been produced in courts. He said that ongoing spot checks on vehicles had also produced positive results.

The governor said that ratio of crime in Sindh was less than that of other provinces.

Dr Ibad said some elements were involved in causing sectarian and ethnic rifts but people were aware about their nefarious designs. Besides, some elements had given political colour to personal and land disputes in the city, he added.

He said there was no mechanism for political parties to scrutinise people before they joined them. He said it was positive sign that all political parties were coordinating with police if their worker or office-bearers was arrested in any case.

He said Lyari Expressway was about to complete, while work on Karachi Circular Railway, Mass Transit, K-4 project of provision of water and S-IV sewerage project would be started soon, as the federal government had already approved these projects.