ISLAMABAD – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to bar all media houses from airing advertisements of the insolent worded campaign from any political party.
The electoral body sent a letter to the Pemra chairman in the wake of the paid advertisement of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) with abusive worded content against other political parties and leadership.
The ECP stated that airing such content of the PTI “is an absolute violation of clauses 47 and 46 of the Code of Conduct .r political parties and candidates”.
“This situation may create polarization among the political parties, which shall cause law and order, in the elections,” reads ECP letter.
It added, “The Election Commission is under the 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 Pakistan Electronic Media Regulate Authority should immediately issue the instructions to all Electronic Media not to air such advertisement of the insolent worded campaign from any political party”.
It concluded that violation of the direction of the commission by a person/ authority concerned shall face legal action under the law.
As the election fever hit Pakistan, all political parties are running their campaigns using different channels, including electronic, print and social media, with full force to woo the voters.
On July 9, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has lodged a complaint with the ECP against the PTI for using foul language against the PPP leadership in one of its advertisements, being aired by many national TV channels.
PPP Secretary General Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, in a letter written to the ECP, said the advertisement given by the PTI to TV channels has defamatory content against PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, violating code of conduct of the election watchdog.
