ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: The Election Commission has urged candidates to observe the code of conduct strictly so that elections could be held in a peaceful environment. Speaking in a PTV programme, secretary of the Election Commission Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said on Wednesday: “All contesting candidates must follow the ‘code of conduct’ and extend full cooperation to (the EC to) guarantee free, impartial and transparent local body elections.”

“I hope all candidates will follow the code to ensure a smooth election process,” he added. For the preparation of the Code of Conduct, he said, it had been ensured that the election process remained smooth and transparent and voters freely exercised their right to vote, he said.

The EC on Tuesday published important articles of the “Code of Conduct” in all national and regional newspapers. The EC secretary said all arrangements for holding of the first and second phase of local body polls had been finalized.

About 300,000 candidates would participate in both phases of the election. He said the printing of about 370 million ballot papers had almost been completed and appointment of 8.5 million polling staff had also been made.—APP