18563 election publicity material removed; 469 violations of code of conduct reported

RAWALPINDI: District Administration has removed 18563 election publicity material including banners, hoardings, steamers and panaflexes from different areas of Rawalpindi district while total 469 violations of code of conduct issued by Election Commission of Pakistan were reported, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Sara Hayat said on Wednesday.

She said that immediate action in accordance with the law was taken on the violations.

Most of the violations were of oversize banners, panaflexes and other publicity material.

She informed that the district administration on the directive of District Monitoring Officer/DC Rawalpindi Dr. Umer Jahangir was making all out efforts to ensure implementation of election code of conduct.

The DCs concerned were removing unapproved size election publicity material from rural and urban areas of the district.

She said that action was taken in Rawalpindi city, Kahuta, Murree, Gujar Khan, Kotli Sattian, Taxila, Kalar Syedan and other areas without any discrimination.

The campaign would continue and no one would be allowed to violate the rules, she added.

She said, the ACs had been directed to take action on violation of Code of Conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for upcoming general elections 2018 and remove all unapproved size banners and posters displayed by political parties and election candidates.

ECP had issued a code of conduct to set the size of portraits at 2x3, banners at 3x9 feet, posters 18x23 inches and handbills should not be larger than 6x9 inches.

There is also a ban on the use of panaflex banners and posters as well as wall-chalking.

The administration has warned the candidates that a report of the violations will be sent to the ECP.

The operation is being conducted on daily basis and continue till the completion of the general elections and no relaxation will be given to anyone.

She said, on second violation, the case would be reported to district monitoring officer who would initiate legal action against the candidate.