ECP sets midnight deadline for election campaigns; appoints spokespersons for General Elections 2024
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared that the election campaign for the upcoming general elections of 2024 will be concluded at midnight tonight, as stated by a commission spokesperson.
Under Section 182 of the Elections Act, 2017, all candidates and political parties participating in the elections have been duly notified regarding the cessation of the election campaign at the stroke of midnight.
The spokesperson emphasized that no candidate or party will be permitted to organize rallies, processions, corner meetings, or any other political activities post the designated deadline, warning of legal repercussions for any violations.
Following the deadline, a ban will be imposed on the publication of election-related campaigns, advertisements, and other written materials in electronic and print media that are perceived to favor or oppose a particular political entity or candidate.
Additionally, the Election Commission has decreed a prohibition on all forms of opinion polls in the media until the conclusion of the election process. Media outlets will be allowed to report election results one hour after polling stations close, with a clear indication that the results are provisional and unofficial. The official results will be announced by the Returning Officers.
Instructions have been issued to the electronic and print media to strictly adhere to the prescribed code of conduct, with directives to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to take legal action against any violations.
In a separate development, the Election Commission has appointed two spokespersons, Nighat Siddique and Hamid Raza Khan, to serve as liaisons with provincial counterparts and be available round the clock until the conclusion of the election process.
