The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued a code of conduct for the national and international media, which applies to journalists from print, electronic, and digital media as well as social media influencers.

Two notifications were issued by the ECP on Friday with a 31-point code of conduct covering international media and observers and a 17-point code aimed at local journalists and social media influencers.

International observers and journalists have been asked to “adher to the Constitution of Pakistan as laws… and respec the authority of the Election Commission and its election officials.”

They will be required to follow instructions issued by the ECP and the state authority and will make sure that their coverage remains impartial, the code said.

The point on impartiality has been emphasized repeatedly throughout the notification.

The ECP code of conduct is aimed at preventing any attempt to influence voters’ opinions.

Negative propaganda against the judiciary, state institutions, sovereignty, and the ideology of Pakistan will be prohibited.

According to the directions, broadcasting any negative content about the character, religion, ethnicity, or caste and creed of candidates will be prohibited. Journalists and their organizations will be provided full security.

In case of violation, the accreditation of the journalist or media organization may be terminated

Moreover, no candidate or political party will be allowed to run an election campaign at the cost of the national exchequer.

Code of Conduct for International observers and journalists

The following is a text of the code of conduct issued by the ECP for international journalists and observers.

1. Any person observing and reporting the electoral process as a member of an International Election Observation Mission must read and understand this Code of Conduct and shall sign a pledge annexed to this Code.

2. The International Observers and Media persons intending to visit Pakistan shall submit their visa applications well in time, according to the rules laid down by relevant authorities of the Government of Pakistan. No observer or media person shall stay in Pakistan beyond the prescribed duration of granted visa.

3. International Observers and Media persons shall respect the sovereignty of Pakistan as well as the fundamental rights and freedom of its people.

4. International Observers and Media persons shall adhere to the Constitution and laws of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and respect the authority of the Election Commission and its election officials.

5. International observers and Media persons shall ensure that their observations and reporting is impartial, and objective and depict the highest standards of accuracy.

6. International Observers and Media persons shall follow instructions issued from time to time by the Election Commission and State authorities and maintain a respectful attitude towards them.

7. International observers and media shall comply with Advisories that may be issued by the government or security agencies to ensure their safety during their stay in Pakistan.

8. Observers and Media persons shall respect the culture and customs of the country and observe the highest level of professionalism.

9. International Observers and Media persons shall display their official identification badges /accreditation cards issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan, at all times and shall present it to electoral officials and other relevant authorities as and when requested.

10. International Observers and Media persons at all times during election process shall maintain strict political impartiality, They shall not exhibit any bias or preference with regard to political parties and candidates

11. International Observers and media persons shall obey rules concerning photography and restrictions on taking pictures as per laws/local culture.

12. International Observer and Media persons shall have right to ask any question and to clear any query but they will not obstruct directly or indirectly any pre-election, election and post-election process.

13. International Observers and media persons shall work harmoniously with other observers, media persons and election officials.

14. International Observers and Media persons shall select areas for election observation and reporting in consultation with Election Commission of Pakistan for their security and safety. However, International Observers and media persons shall choose the area to ensure balanced observation /reporting.

15. International Election Observers and media persons may hire services of Pakistani interpreters if so required. However, they shall provide all necessary details of these interpreters while applying for accreditation card. These interpreters shall also remain non-partisan and unbiased.

16. International Observers and media persons may observe and report all aspects of management and conduct of elections including actual polling day without interfering in electoral proceedings.

17. International Observers and media persons shall not interfere in the internal process at any polling station.

18. International Observers and Media International Observers and media persons shall not maintain their personal and professional relationships with individuals/organizations in a way that could lead to conflict of interest with duties as observers and reporters.

19. International Observers and media persons shall not accept any gift or favors from political parties, organizations or persons involved in the electoral process.

20. International Observers and media persons shall not wear, carry or display any party symbols or colours of a partisan nature.

21. Observer shall not make any personal comments about his/her observation or conclusion on the election process to the media. 22 International Observers and Media persons shall not conduct or participate in any activity that may generate an impression of favouring or opposing any political party or a candidate.

22. The content on international print & electronic media and any international media persons, newspaper and channel on digital media and other social media influencers shall not reflect any aspect which might create parochialism or threatens peace and security of the country or threatens or incite hatred/violence against any particular person or group in Pakistan.

23. The content on international print & electronic media and any international media person, newspaper and channel on digital media and and other International social media influencers shall not include any aspect which might be construed as personal attacks on candidates, political parties of Pakistan on the basis of gender, religion, sect, caste, baradari etc.

24. No International radio or television channel shall broadcast/telecast or print media shall publish anything that adversely affects the public opinion against a particular political party or a candidate in Pakistan. This code of conduct is also applicable to official social media accounts of international newspapers, channels, media persons and other social media influencers.

25. International print. electronic media and International digital media persons /influencers on their official accounts on digital media shall refrain from entrance and exit polls or conducting any kind of surveys at any polling station or constituency that may influence the voters’ free choice of casting votes.

26. International print, electronic media and International digital media persons /influencers shall broadcast telecast or publish only authentic election results officially issued by the Returning Officer or the Election Commission of Pakistan.

27. Observer Organizations shall share their findings, methodology, recommendations and reports with the Election Commission of Pakistan.

28. The government and law enforcing agencies of Pakistan shall provide proiection to international Observers and media persons to maintain their security.

29. ln case of violation of this Code of Conduct, the Election Commission of Pakistan reserves the right to withdraw observer accreditation of an individual Observer/Observer Mission and Individual journalist/Media Organization. The authority to determine the violation also rests with the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Code of Conduct for Pakistan media and influencers

The following is a text of the code of conduct issued by the ECP for Pakistani journalists and social media influencers.

1. During the election campaign, the content floated on print, electronic and digital media, shall not reflect any opinion prejudicial to the ideology, sovereignty, dignity or security of Pakistan, public order or the integrity and independence of the judiciary of Pakistan and other national institutions.

2. Allegations and statements which may harm national solidarity or may create law and order situation from the issuance of election schedule till the notification of returned candidate shall be strictly avoided on print & electronic media and by any media person, newspaper and channel operating official account on digital media and other social media influencers.

3. The content on print & electronic media, any media person, newspaper, channel operating official accounts on digital media and social media influencers shall not induce any aspect which might be construed as personal attack on candidates or political parties on the basis of gender, religion, sect, caste, baradari etc. In case of violation, legal action shall be taken against the violator.

4. If a candidate makes an allegation against another candidate, the media should seek comments and verification from both the sides by providing fair opportunities to both the parties.

5. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Press information Department (PID), Cyber Wing and Digital Media Wing of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) shall monitor the coverage given to political parties and candidates for their election campaigns through electronic channels, print and social media The above authorities shall submit to the Commission details of payments made by the political parties and candidates within 10 days after poll day.

6. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Press Information Department (PID), Cyber Wing and Digital Media Wing of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) shall assist the Election Commission in implementation of this Code of conduct. They shall further provide at any time, any information required by Election Commission of Pakistan in the discharge of its constitutional duties.

7. The government and law enforcing agencies shall provide due protection to media persons, and media houses to maintain their freedom of expression as their fundamental right.

8. No print, electronic or digital media shall run campaign of candidates and political parties at the cost of public exchequer.

9. The journalists or print, electric and digital media, social media influencers and media houses throughout the election period shall launch Civic and Voter Education programs which shall be inclusive especially focusing marginalized groups such as women, transgender, youth, minorities and differently abled persons to maximize voter turnout and ensure their participation in electoral process.

10. In light of Section 182 of the Elections Act 2017, any media person on print, electronic and social media shall refrain from projecting election campaign of any candidate or political party during a period of forty-eight hours ending at midnight following the conclusion of the poll for any election.

11. Any media person from print, electronic and digital media shall not obstruct the election process in any way and shall display their accreditation cards provided by the Election Commission.

12. Print & Electronic media and any journalist, newspaper, and channel on their official accounts on digital media, and other social media influencers shall refrain from entrance and exit polls or conducting any kind of surveys at any polling station or constituency which may influence the voters’ free choice of casting vote or hinder the process in any way.

13. Only accredited media persons shall be allowed to enter a polling station (along with camera) for making footage for the voting process only once. They shall ensure secrecy of the ballot and shall not make footage of the screened off compartment. However, media personnel shall be allowed to observe the counting process without making any footage of the process.

14. During coverage of polling process, media persons shall not obstruct directly or indirectly any pre-election, election and post-election process.

15. The media shall not air any unofficial result of a polling station until one hour has passed after the close of poll.

16. Broadcasters will air results after one hour of polling ending with clear disclaimer that these are unofficial, incomplete and fractional results, which should not be taken as final results until Returning officer has announced result of the constituency. In case of any violation, ECP may direct concerned authorities for appropriate action.

17. In case of violation of this Code of Conduct, the Election Commission of Pakistan reserves the right to withdraw accreditation of an individual joumalist/Media Organization. The authority to determine the violation also rests with the Election Commission of Pakistan.