In a significant move to ensure electoral integrity, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a strict directive on Saturday, prohibiting media organizations from broadcasting or publishing unofficial results of the ongoing by-elections.
ECP's Directives on Result Announcements
The Commission explicitly stated that only the designated Returning Officers hold the authority to announce the official results of the polls. It warned that any premature reporting of results by media outlets could potentially mislead the public and create unnecessary confusion.
The ECP's instructions are clear and specific: media houses must not air or publish any unofficial results until at least one hour after the close of polling. Furthermore, if any results are released after this stipulated time, they must be prominently labeled as unofficial and incomplete.
Consequences for Violations and Polling Details
The electoral body did not mince words regarding the enforcement of these rules. It cautioned that any violations of this directive would be taken seriously and referred to the relevant authorities for disciplinary action. The ECP reiterated, for absolute clarity, that the final and official result for any constituency will be issued solely by its concerned Returning Officer.
These measures were put in place for the by-elections scheduled for Sunday, November 23, which were held for a total of 13 constituencies. The seats in contention included:
- Six National Assembly (NA) seats
- Seven Punjab Assembly (PA) seats
This proactive step by the ECP aims to maintain order and trust in the electoral process, ensuring that the public receives accurate and certified information directly from the official sources.
