EC code of conduct being flouted in city
By Adnan Rafique

RAWALPINDI—Violation of code of conduct by would-be candidates for the coming general elections was observed in the Rawalpindi city, after the chief election commissioner of Pakistan announced general elections schedule.
Recently, the chief election commissioner announced general elections schedule for national and provincial assemblies to be held on January 8 across the country. The chief election commissioner had issued code of conduct for elections for Political Parties and Contesting Candidates for General Elections, 2007-08. The authorities further directed the concerned officers to strictly ensure the observation of code of conduct, as it is mandatory for all the candidates willing to participate in general elections. If any one would violate the code of conduct one should be disqualify from participating in elections.
With the announcement of schedule, the former ruling party candidate and former Federal Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed installed big hoardings in his two constituencies NA 55 and 56. The hoardings contain a big picture and message of the contesting candidate. The size of installed hoardings did not match with the authorized size by the election commission of Pakistan.
According to code of conduct Section 83-A of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 lays down that no person or a political party shall affix posters, hoardings, banners or leaflets/handbills larger than the sizes prescribed by the EC.
The Commission has prescribed the sizes as under: (a) Posters 2-feet x 3-feet, (b) Hoardings 3-feet x 5-feet, (c) Banners 3-feet x 9-feet and (d) Leaflets/Handbills 9-inches x 6 inches. The local authority and the Returning Officer shall be responsible for the implementation of the provisions of this section.
The violator would disqualify from contesting at provincial as well national constituency. Sheikh Rashid, Nazim Rawal Town Sheikh Rashid Shafeeq, Pirzada Rahat Quddosi, Sardar Shaukat Hayat, Fiaz-ul-Hassan Chohan and others has installed dozen of gigantic hoardings in their constituencies at various places.
Despite sheer violation of code of conduct of elections, the hoardings were damaging the beauty of the city as it were mostly installed in various roundabouts. The candidate did not get permission for the installation of hoarding from the City District Government as hoardings were installed at roadside publicity points
With the announcement of schedule, the former ruling party candidate and former Federal Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed installed big hoardings in his two constituencies NA 55 and 56. The hoardings contain a big picture and message of the contesting candidate.