A code of conduct has been issued for the candidates ahead of the general elections to be held for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on July 27, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.
As per the code, a candidate can spend up to Rs5 million on his or her election campaign; he or she will be bound to submit details of expenditures incurred on the campaign after the announcement of election results; no candidate through his speech or conduct will insult Kashmir, Pakistan, judiciary and the armed forces of the country; a candidate will be bound to comply with the rules under the Election Act.
Similarly, he or she will refrain from targeting the chief election commissioner or any member of the election commission; will not offer a bribe or any other favour to the other candidate in order to make him or her step down; it will be mandatory for the candidates to cooperate with the election staff; otherwise, action will be taken against them.
The code of conduct also bars candidates from becoming party to any agreement, the purpose of which is to prevent women and members of transgender community from casting votes.
It is also laid down in the code that the money spent by any other person on behalf of the candidate will be deemed to be spent by the candidate.
Candidates have also been barred from seeking the support of any government or semi-government official during electioneering.
And last but not the least, it will be obligatory on them to refrain from using the language which incites people to violence.
Reporter: Hashir Warraich