Code of Conduct for Security Personnel for the General Elections, 2013
Islamabad the 7th March, 2013
No.F.2(10)/2013-Cord (3).— In exercise of the powers conferred upon it under Article 218(3) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan read with Section 104 of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 and all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the Election Commission of Pakistan is pleased to issue the Code of Conduct for Security Personnel for the General Elections, 2013 and subsequent bye-elections:
(1) All personnel belonging to law enforcing agencies, deputed for any election duty, shall work in close collaboration with concerned District Returning Officer, Returning Officer and other election officials.
(2) All law enforcing agencies shall remain neutral throughout the election process and shall not act in favour of or against any political party or candidate.
(3) On polling day all lawful orders of Returning Officers and Presiding Officers shall be promptly implemented by law enforcing agencies.
(4) The security personnel deputed at the polling station shall stay outside the polling station premises or at a place as directed by concerned Presiding Officer. They shall not enter the polling station premises unless they are so directed by the concerned Presiding Officer.
(5) The officials of law enforcing agencies deployed at a polling station shall assist the Presiding Officer in maintaining or restoring law and order at the polling station as and when asked to do so.
(6) The security personnel standing outside the polling station shall facilitate the voters and ensure that they are properly queued. They will render all possible assistance to persons with physical disability, old and sick voters including pregnant women. Such voters shall be allowed to stand at the front of queue.
(7) The security personnel deployed at the polling station shall ensure that peaceful and conducive environment is provided to voters outside the polling stations and voters are neither intimidated nor hampered from voting.
(8) Where any law enforcing agency is tasked with protecting and transporting election materials under its supervision, such election materials shall be transported with due care and diligence and shall not be tampered during their transport in any manner.
(9) The Security forces shall abide by all the relevant laws and continuously work on winning the general public’s trust by maintaining law and order during election process.
By order of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
(Syed Sher Afgan)
Director General (Elections)