KHAR: Officials of the Election Commission of Pakistan and district administration in a meeting here on Wednesday asked all the candidates to follow the electoral code of conduct for holding the first-ever provincial assembly elections in a free, fair and peaceful environment in Bajaur tribal district.

District returning officer Fazal Hakeem, district election commissioner Parviz Iqbal, deputy commissioner Usman Mehsud and returning officers of the three provincial assembly constituencies attended the meeting. Almost all the candidates from the three constituencies of PK-100, PK-101 and PK-102 also attended the meeting jointly organised by the ECP and district administration.

The officials told the participants that the ECP was committed to holding the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner in the region. They asked the candidates and political activists to support the ECP in its efforts to hold free and fair elections by following the code of conduct. The asked the candidates to also educate their supporters in this regard.

They asked the candidates and political activists to avoid hate speech and personal attacks during the election campaign and keep friendly relations with each others to keep the environment peaceful.

The ECP officials said that they had noted that some candidates and leaders of political parties were using derogatory language for their opponents.

They said that strict action would be taken against those found guilty of violation of the code of conduct.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2019