Case Update Status

After this ECP did not issue any other statement.

Summary of Case

"The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has enforced a comprehensive prohibition on exit and entrance polls, including those conducted via official digital media channels of print, electronic media outlets, and social media influencers. On August 15, ECP issued the directive to bar the media from entry exit polls. In the context of the upcoming general elections, which are surrounded by uncertainty, the ECP has additionally disallowed any form of surveys within polling stations or constituencies that could potentially influence the independent voting choices of voters. An exit poll involves collecting the opinions of voters as they leave polling stations, inquiring about their voting preferences. Likewise, an entrance poll is conducted prior to voters entering polling stations to cast their votes. As part of the guidelines for general elections, the code of conduct restricts print, electronic, and digital media from promoting candidates and political parties at the expense of public funds. The code emphasizes that if any platform in these media categories accepts paid political advertisements from a candidate or political party, it must disclose the expenditure details in accordance with the law to the ECP. Throughout the election campaign, the code of conduct mandates that content disseminated through print, electronic, and digital media must refrain from expressing any opinions that could prejudice Pakistan's ideology, sovereignty, integrity, security, public order, or the independence of the judiciary. The code strictly forbids the propagation of allegations or statements that could jeopardize national unity or incite law and order issues on print and electronic media, as well as by official digital media accounts of newspapers, channels, and social media influencers. The code further dictates that the content within print, electronic, and digital media, including media personalities, newspapers, official digital media accounts, and social media influencers, must not contain any elements that could be interpreted as personal attacks on candidates or political parties based on gender, religion, sect, caste, or other affiliations. If a violation occurs, the affected party has the right to complain and take legal action through appropriate channels. The code underscores the importance of seeking comments from both sides when a candidate levels an allegation against another candidate. To oversee the coverage of political parties and candidates during their election campaigns via electronic channels, print, and social media, the ECP has tasked authorities such as the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Press Information Department (PID), and Cyber Wing and Digital Media Wing of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB). These authorities are required to furnish the ECP with information about payments made by political parties and candidates within 10 days following the polling day, and they must provide any necessary information as requested by the ECP to fulfill its responsibilities. According to Dawn, the code of conduct also mandates that the government, particularly law enforcement agencies, ensure the protection of media personnel and media establishments to uphold their freedom of expression. In addition, journalists, print, electronic, and digital media, social media influencers, and media organizations are encouraged to initiate educational programs that promote civic participation and voter engagement, particularly among marginalized groups like women, transgender individuals, youth, minorities, and differently-abled persons. These efforts aim to increase voter turnout and ensure broader participation in the electoral process. The code specifies that accredited media personnel may enter a polling station (with cameras) only once to record the voting process, ensuring the secrecy of the ballot and refraining from filming within the screened-off voting compartment. During the vote-counting process, media personnel are allowed to observe. While covering the polling process, media individuals must not obstruct any pre-election, election, or post-election activities, and they must refrain from broadcasting unofficial polling station results until at least an hour after voting ends. If results are aired later, they must be accompanied by a clear disclaimer indicating their unofficial, preliminary, and partial nature. Any violations could lead to the ECP Recommending appropriate action by the relevant authorities. The ECP asserts its authority to revoke accreditation for individual journalists or media organizations in cases where the code of conduct is violated. The determination of violations is within the purview of the ECP."

Category of Incident

Censorship

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: 0803-Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Group: 08039-Other acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: Acts related to freedom of expression or control of expression

Reported By

Dawn

Date of incident

15

Month

August

Year

2023

Name of affected person

No person was affected

Other affected persons

Not other person affected

Name of affected organization

All media channels and organisations

Other affected organizations

No other organization was affected

Action by

By the Election Commission of Pakistan

City

Nationwide

Province

Nationwide

Designation

Media Organisation

Professional category

Not Applicable

Age of victim

N/A

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announcement by government: No compensation announced

Date of compensation paid by government: No compensation announced

Amount of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date of compensation announced by others: No compensation announced

Date compensation paid by others: No compensation announced

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No

Court where case was presented: It is a ECP directive for barring media organisations from exting the polls.

Name of prosecuting lawyer: It is a ECP directive for barring media organisations from exting the polls.

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: It is a ECP directive for barring media organisations from exting the polls.

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not required to contact

APNS

CPNE

PBA

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

Not required to contact

Employer organization

Not required to contact

Press Club Status

Press club 1: Not required to contact

Press club 2:

Press club 3: