CHAKWAL: District Returning Officer (DRO) of Chakwal Chaudhry Humayun Imtiaz has asked all local journalists to submit an undertaking that they will do reporting with complete impartiality.

The order issued by District Information Officer (DIO) Tabinda Amjad on July 16 states: “Under the code of conduct for media issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan for the peaceful holding of General Elections, you are all requested to submit an affidavit on the following points before the Information Office by July 18:

“I state on oath that I would do reporting with complete impartiality. I would not try to influence polling staff or their work. I would not do canvassing on behalf of any candidate. And I would perform my professional duties with good manner.”

Interestingly, ECP did not ask journalists to submit separate affidavits in its code of conduct issued for the media.

When contacted, DIO Tabinda Amjad told Dawn that she had received verbal instructions from DRO Chaudhry Humayun Imtiaz who asked her to get an affidavit from all local journalists.

“No written order was issued rather the DRO asked me verbally to get an affidavit on four points from all local journalists,” she said.

The order left local journalists confused.

“I fail to understand why journalists were asked to submit an affidavit? Are we contesting the elections,” a local journalist said.

Many journalists submitted the affidavit fearing they could be stopped from covering the elections.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2018