ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday said that election campaign of all political parties across the country would come to an end 48 hours before the polling day.

After the midnight of May 9 and 10 all public meetings and political campaign, including on electronic and print media, must come to a halt, the ECP said in a press release.

The candidates violating deadline will have to face disqualification, fine up to Rs100,000 or withholding of their results by the returning officers (ROs), it added.

The commission urged the people, candidates and political parties to adhere to law and make possible the holding of elections in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.

“A person if found canvassing for votes, solicits to vote of any elector, persuades any elector not to vote at the elections or for a particular candidate or exhibits, except with permission of ROs at a place reserved for the candidates or his election agent beyond the radius of one hundred yards of the polling station and notice sign banner or flag designed to encourage the electors to vote or discourage the electors from voting for any contesting candidate have to face the music.”

The commission, however, said, “Such restriction will not be applicable to any talk show or other TV radio programmes, which are being attended by electoral experts, anchors, analysts, writers, journalists, observers or members from civil society organisations or any other persons who does not represent any political party or a candidates nor he is a contesting candidates.”

Similarly, it also advised the print media to avoid publishing advertisements or such written material for the purpose of political campaign or which tends to malign or favour a particular political party or a candidate during the said period.

Moreover, the ECP has directed Presiding Officers (POs) to reach their respective polling stations by Friday evening (May 10).

It said that polling related materials will be handed over to Presiding Officers on Friday. The Presiding Officers will open ballot papers and polling materials on the polling day in the presence of polling agents.