Pakistan political parties warned against using religion for votes

The Election Commission of Pakistan has warned candidates against seeking votes in the name of religion or sect.

Islamabad: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has warned candidates against seeking votes in the name of religion or sect.

A senior ECP official said political parties, candidates and their supporters must not campaign against any person on the basis of religion, ethnicity, caste or gender during May 11 elections. He said that candidates and their supporters shall refrain from speeches arousing parochial and sectarian emotions and controversy between gender, community and linguistic groups, the Dawn reports. According to the paper, he added that political parties and candidates must uphold people`s rights and freedom guaranteed in the Constitution. The official said that political parties, candidates and their supporters must refrain from deliberate dissemination of false and malicious information and must not indulge in forgery and disinformation to defame other political parties and their leaders. Carrying and displaying all kinds of weapons in public meetings, processions and on the Election Day will be banned, he said. Firing into the air, use of crackers and other explosives at public meetings and at or near polling stations will not be allowed, he added. ANI