ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: The Election Commission on Thursday said the election campaign would come to an end at midnight on Oct 8.

An announcement by the EC said the political parties and candidates had to wind up their campaigns 48 hours before polling.

The commission said that any person found violating the provision could face imprisonment for up to six months, Rs1,000 fine or both.

“The period allowed for election campaign for general elections scheduled to be held on Oct 10 shall come to an end with effect from the midnight falling between Oct 8 and Oct 9,” the announcement said.

The EC requested the political parties and candidates to follow the provisions of law and stop their election campaign accordingly so that polls might be held on Oct 10 in an orderly and peaceful manner.

It said that no person could, within a radius of 400 yards of the polling station on the polling day, canvasses for votes; persuade any elector not to vote; exhibit, except with the permission of the returning officer and at a place reserved for the candidate or his election agent beyond the radius of 100 yards of the polling station, any notice, sign, banner or flag designed to encourage the electors to vote or discourage the electors from voting, for any candidate.