ISLAMABAD – The Election Commission of Pakistan has issued a separate codeof conduct for the security officials deployed to ensure the election iscarried out peacefully.

The 11-point code of conduct binds them to perform their duty in accordancewith the law and cooperate with the presiding officers, returning officersand polling staff.

The code orders the security officials to:

Remain impartial during the voting process and will not work for or againstany political party or electoral candidate

Will be bound to obey all legal orders issued by the presiding andreturning officers

Will remain outside the premises of the polling station (where they havebeen deployed) or remain at a place where they have been ordered to performtheir duties in by the presiding officer

Will not enter the premises of the polling station unless ordered by thepresiding officer

Will assist the presiding officer in maintaining or establishing peace atthe polling station

Will assist voters outside the polling station and ensure that they standin line

Will assist elderly, transgender, pregnant women and differently-abledvoters as much as possible and will allow them to stand in front of the line

Will ensure that the atmosphere outside the polling station is friendly andsafe and voters can exercise their right to vote without any fear andconfrontation

Will remain careful in the transportation of voting equipment and ensurethat all equipment and polling staff have arrived safely at the pollingstation;

will ensure that the quipment has been returned to presiding officers aftervoting ends

Will ensure that voting process concludes peacefully

President Mamnoon Hussain approved a summary sent by the ECP recommendingJuly 25 as date for General Elections 2018. The polling for the nationaland provincial assemblies will be held on the same day.