All political campaigning will come to a complete stop tonight as a two-day pause before the elections, mandated by law, begins. This silence period starts at midnight.
A senior official from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that all electioneering must halt as of midnight on February 6. Anyone caught breaking this rule risks a jail sentence of up to two years.
According to Election Act 2017, Section 182, no political meetings, rallies, or processions are allowed 48 hours before polling ends in any constituency or province.
Political Parties Ramp Up Efforts Before Blackout
With the campaign blackout looming, candidates and their parties have been busy rallying support. Party leaders have crisscrossed constituencies, boasting of past achievements and promising a brighter future to win votes.
Election Commission Defends Voting System Amid Hacking Concerns
The ECP’s new Election Management System (EMS) has faced skepticism after a returning officer raised alarms about potential unauthorized control. However, ECP Secretary Syed Asif Hussain dismissed any concerns, ensuring the system’s integrity even in the absence of internet, thanks to offline capabilities and satellite connections provided to certain remote areas.
Project Director of the ECP’s PMU Col Saad emphasized the security of the EMS, noting it operates on a secure network inaccessible to unauthorized persons. He confirmed that the issue raised by the returning officer had been resolved and that the EMS was well-prepared with thousands of laptops and trained operators to manage election results.
Results Compilation Time and System Testing
While Col Saad could not specify the exact time needed to compile election results, he hoped to meet all legal deadlines, aiming for completion by 10am post-election day. The EMS has been through five rounds of testing, and minor hiccups were corrected.
Khizar Aziz from ECP’s IT department highlighted the upgraded EMS technology’s track record in past elections, the establishment of a National Operations Center, and robust power back-up systems. He assured that any discrepancies in results would be immediately detected by the EMS.
Furthermore, Haroon Shinwari of the Central Control Room announced the setup of dedicated facilities to monitor the election and handle complaints through various communication channels.
Ballot Paper Delivery and Counting Process
The ECP has successfully sent out 260 million ballot papers for the election, overcoming logistical hurdles. It also debunked rumors on social media about postal ballot ‘results’ from jail inmates as false.
The commission explained that postal ballots would be counted transparently in front of candidates and agents, and then included in the final tally.
New Helpline for Journalists
An online platform has been launched by the caretaker government to aid media observers and manage complaints during the elections. Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi announced that the app, which works across all browsers, aims to facilitate swift complaint resolution for local and international journalists.
A Press Information Department official stated that staff would actively monitor and address complaints through the app, which would serve as a liaison for journalists with various departments.
Press Information Officer Tariq Mehmood disclosed future plans to make the app a standard tool for addressing journalists’ complaints and announced the setting up of an election cell to assist journalists throughout the election period.
