RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to immediately issue instructions to all electronic media not to air advertisement of insolent-worded campaign from any political party.

In this regard, ECP has issued an order to the Pemra on Tuesday.

The ECP has issued directives to Pemra to keep a watch on political advertisements being broadcast on television channels by different parties. The development comes after the ECP found that the electronic media is airing the paid advertisement of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with insolent-worded contents against other political parties and leadership.

The ECP has issued the said order on the public interest petition filed by Safeer Hussain Shah Advocate.

According to the order of the ECP to Pemra, the electronic media is airing the paid advertisement of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf with abusive worded contents against other political parties and leadership. It is an absolute violation of clauses 47 and 46 of the Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates. This, situation may create polarization among the political parties, which shall cause law and order situation in the elections. The Election Commission is under constitutional obligation to provide level playing field to all political parties and contesting candidates to ensure free, fair and transparent elections.

It is, thus, directed by the Election Commission that Pemra should immediately issue the instructions to all electronic media not to air such advertisement of insolent-worded campaign from any political party. Violation of direction of the commission by any person/authority concerned shall face legal action under the law, the ECP added.

Sources said that the ECP has issued a public interest order which should be appreciated by all concerned, as the order would be binding on all political parties to strictly obey the code of

conduct of the ECP, they added.