The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday delineated the 'crimes' that will fall under the jurisdiction of district returning officers (DROs) on July 25, DawnNewsTV reported.

According to the notification, anyone found involved in the following acts will be treated as having violated the ECP's code of conduct and to be prosecuted against under the law:

  1. Evicting a voter from the polling station.
  2. Any direct or indirect attempt to influence a voter in connection with his or her decision to cast or to not cast a vote, either through giving a gift, making an offer or promise will be considered bribery.
  3. Using force or violence to coerce someone into casting or not casting a vote.
  4. Intimidation, inflicting harm or threatening someone with the anger or approval of a religious personality.
  5. Abducting a voter, intimidating, duping or influencing him or her through illegal means.
  6. Spoiling ballot paper or the official stamp.
  7. Taking ballot papers from a polling station or inserting fake ballot papers in the ballot box.
  8. Providing a ballot paper to someone without permission, lifting ballot papers or boxes, breaking the seal on a ballot box, disturbing polling staffers, affecting the polling process with the help of a government official, any attempt to cast a fake vote, or cast multiple votes.
  9. Showing or possessing firearms during polling process, torturing officials, creating disruptions near a polling station to disturb voters, attempts to affect the working of a presiding officer or other staffers, and convincing a voter to vote for a particular candidate within 400 metres of a polling station.
  10. Pasting a notice, electoral sign or flag within 100 metre radius of a polling station, or within the special area allotted to election agents.
  11. Attempting to know for whom a voter has cast his or her vote.
  12. Attempting to take a picture of your vote/ballot paper.

A DRO/sessions judge can sentence offenders to up to three years in jail, or Rs100,000 in fines, or both.

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...