ISLAMABAD: Candidates of three National Assembly constituencies in Islamabad on Wednesday opposed the imposition of section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, a law concerning the maintenance of public order, in the federal capital and demanded its immediate withdrawal so they can carry out their election campaigns without restriction.

During a special meeting at the Jinnah Convention Centre, more than 50 candidates for three constituencies criticised the Islamabad Capital Territory administration and District Returning Officer (DRO) Sohail Nasir for imposing restrictions on them under the pretext of section 144, including a ban on public meetings, corner meetings, the display of arms and the use of loudspeakers, etc.

The meeting was arranged by the DRO to better coordinate with candidates for the implementation of the code of conduct for the 2018 general elections, scheduled for July 25.

Say the bar on public meetings is hindering their campaigning as they have to apply for an NOC for all events

Other than former federal minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, no other prominent candidate from the mainstream political parties attended the meeting including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, another PML-N candidate Anjum Aqeel Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami leader Mian Mohammad Aslam and PTI’s Asad Umar.

A total of 76 candidates are contesting for National Assembly seats in Islamabad- NA-52, NA-53 and NA-54. Imran Khan and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi are contesting from NA-53.

Due to the imposition of section 144, it is mandatory for candidates to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the local administration before holding public meetings, corner meetings, rallies or before plying vehicles branded with posters of political parties and candidates.

However, the candidates refused to seek an NOC for each and every activity related to the polls. A suggestion was also made that a process of online complaints and approvals should be considered.

The DRO gave a final warning to all candidates not to violate the code and said no poster or banner will be allowed if they do not contain the name of the publisher. The majority of the hundreds of thousands of posters and banners in the city do not mention the publisher’s name.

One candidate said the imposition of section 144 amounts to the violation of the freedom of expression and is contrary to the concept of free and fair elections. She asked candidates to raise their hand if they wanted to rid the capital of the law during electioneering. All candidates raised their hands.

The new Islamabad Chief Commissioner Jaudat Ayaz, who has served as deputy commissioner in the capital more than a decade ago, said section 144 has been enforced in the capital since the PTI sit-in of 2014.

However, he said, the local administration will consider the demand for lifting the law.

The candidates have also been barred from using panaflexes as the code of conduct only permits banners made of cloth.

The DRO assured the candidates that no discrimination will be made on the basis of political affiliation and status in the implementation of the code.

“We are not getting dictation from anywhere and there are no invisible forces,” he said, adding that he will present these demands before the ECP.

Some participants told the DRO that many candidates had crossed the Rs4 million limit on spending during electioneering and that some government departments including the Sui Northern Gas Supply Company and Islamabad Electric Supply Company have started new development schemes to secure votes for certain candidates. Other candidates have launched new schemes from their own pockets, they said.

They also complained that most candidates cannot find space for their banners and posters as they have been occupied by influential and rich candidates. They demanded security for themselves and their election offices.

Inspector General of Police Islamabad Jan Mohammad said a new security plan has been devised for the elections which will be given in a day or so.

The DRO said there is no bar on continuing with development works that were already started though no new schemes can be launched before July 25.

He said there is also no ban on displaying banners and posters on any road in Islamabad except for in the Red Zone which houses important offices and buildings such as Parliament House, president and prime minister houses, the Supreme Court and the Foreign Office, among others.

He said banners and posters must be prepared according to the specifications mentioned in the election code of conduct.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2018