ELECTION CAMPAIGN THROUGH OUT THE COUNTRY SHALL COME TO AN END WITH EFFECT FROM THE MID-NIGHT FALLING BETWEEN 16TH & 17TH FEBRUARY, 2008.
….. Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad,
Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan
Islamabad, the 11th February, 2008.- In connection with the Polls for Elections to the seats in the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies on the 18th February, 2008, attention is invited to Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act, 1976, which provides that no person shall convene, hold or attend any public meeting and no person shall promote or join in any procession within the area of the constituency during a period of forty-eight hours ending at midnight following the conclusion of the poll for an election in that constituency.
2. The election campaign for ensuing general elections shall therefore, come to an end throughout the country with effect from the midnight falling between the 16th and 17th February, 2008.
3. The law further prohibits that personation for bogus voting, tampering with ballot papers, canvassing within the radius of four hundred yards of the polling stations and disorderly conduct in and around the polling stations on the polling day. The offender are liable to be tried summarily by the Mobile Magistrates and the Presiding Officers and awarded adequate punishment of imprisonment or fine or both, as provided under the law.
4. The Nation expects the political parties and the candidates to exercise self-restraint during the Polling in order to avoid a situation which might endanger public peace and order. In the larger national interest, the Election Commission has earnestly appealed to all citizens, the candidates and the political parties to strictly adhere to the provisions of law so that the Poll could be held on the 18th February, 2008, in an orderly manner and in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.