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KP’s grim code of conduct bans nighttime political activities

KP’s grim code of conduct bans nighttime political activities

Hum News
Aug 03, 2023

Irfan Khan

PESHAWAR: Following the massive bomb blast in Bajaur Tribal District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that claimed the lives of 63 people so far, the provincial government has issued a code of conduct (CoC) for the safety of political individuals and events.

The CoC issued by the KP home and tribal affairs department says that “in the wake of law and order situation in the province, it is felt that political parties’ leadership should be sensitised to adopt security guidelines, during their campaigns, for the protection of their leaders and workers.”

It adds that “each political party shall submit an application to the district administration for NOC to hold any political activity, especially in case of huge public gatherings/ rallies, wherein political leadership or national level personalities are expected to participate.”

KP govt’s code of conduct

The advisory asks for a tentative fortnightly schedule of political gatherings and meetings to be shared with the police apart from lists of leaders addressing the event, and the expected number of audiences, says the document available with HUM News English.

The CoC consists of points that particularly differentiates the security dynamics of the province from the rest of the country. It states that:

The local leadership shall submit an affidavit to the effect that no road or street shall be blocked, and no traffic hassle shall be created to cause public inconvenience.
The party or candidates shall inform the district administration of the venue and time of the proposed gathering/comer meeting in time, enabling the police to make necessary arrangements for maintaining law and order, and controlling traffic.
No meetings/Jalsa by different political parties shall take place on the same date, time and venue or at a place adjacent to the venue of the other party.
Permission shall be granted subject to clearance from law enforcement agencies.
If there is any restrictive order in force, in the proposed place of meeting, shall be strictly followed.
All NOCs for holding meetings/corer meetings/Jalsa’s etc. shall be issued by the DC concerned after observing all codal formalities.

Identification of Venue

The CoC says that:

The district administration in consultation with all stakeholders shall identify and notify 2-3 suitable sites for the political gatherings to be preferably used by the political parties for holding political gatherings when the national leaders are expected to attend.
Tehsil administrations shall identify and notify 4-5 suitable sites after obtaining approval from district administration.
Corner meetings shall be held within the closed premises and information of all corner meetings shall be shared with the district administration and the local police station for provision of necessary security.
No political activities shall be allowed in government/semi government buildings, playgrounds, chowks, roads etc.
All political parties shall arrange/conduct their political gatherings in broad daylight.
No political gathering shall exceed the assigned time limit.
In case of non-observance of the assigned timing, responsibility of any mishap shall lie upon the leadership (local/national) of the concerned political party.
Use of loudspeakers shall be allowed to the extent of huge political gatherings at identified/selected venues.
No political party or any candidate shall use loudspeaker in any public place or in proximity of worship places, hospitals, public and educational Institutions etc.

Security of Political leaders

In the rather puzzling advisory, security of political leaders and activists has been squarely made their own responsibility, “while KP Police shall be responsible for the overall security of the area.”

It further says:

No personal security would be given to politicians except those whose cases have been specifically approved by the Provincial/Divisional/District level Committee under the policy.
The politicians may however deploy uniformed private security guards having valid licensed arms with them for their security, subject to the condition that the detailed information of such guards and weapons shall be registered with the concerned Police Station.
DC may be kept informed about all such security measures adopted.

Video Recording

An even stricter clause says video Recording of political events shall be the responsibility of the event organisers who will also need to provide these videos to the concerned police station.

The advisory explicitly adds that “any other guidelines issued by ECP or any other authority of the government of Pakistan/KP shall also be adopted forthwith.”