LAHORE, July 9: The Election Commission has directed that transfer orders of employees in various departments issued before the announcement of local body elections schedule but have not yet been implemented shall stand cancelled. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held at the commission offices on Saturday. The schedule was announced on June 30.

Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar presided over the meeting which was attended by commission secretary Kanwar Dilshad, member Justice Nasim Sikandar, Punjab chief secretary Kamran Rasool, IGP Ziaul Hasan and others.

Justice Dogar told the participants that a code of conduct for the candidates would be issued on Monday and it would be implemented in letter and spirit.

The CEC declared that as the polls were being held on non-party basis no candidate would be allowed to “use any visible or invisible support of any political party.”

“I am determined to hold free and fair elections in a transparent manner to strengthen the Commission’s credibility and improve image of the country globally,” he said.

He directed the provincial governments to take all steps for maintaining law and order during pre- and post-election period.

Justice Dogar told reporters that the polls would not be delayed due to floods nor he had received any request from any province in this regard.

Replying a question, he said besides the European Union, observers from other countries and world organizations would be welcomed for monitoring various stages of the polls.