LHC disposes of pleas against ban on airing election surveys on media

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday disposed of the petitions filed against the ban imposed on airing surveys and other general elections-related programmes by the media when counsel for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) told the court that there was no bar on the media airing poll-related programmes before the election day, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi heard the petitions filed by journalist Muneer Ahmad Bajwa and others.

Mian Daud Advocate represented the petitioners in the court.

The ECP’s lawyer said that the purpose of the commission imposing a ban was confined to the election-day only, and that even on that day media could cover voting, voters’ turnout and related matters.  

The LHC had on Friday sought a reply from the ECP on a ban imposed on conducting surveys and public polls by the electronic media before the upcoming general elections.

A week ago, the election commission had taken notice of the violation of its election code of conduct by some media houses and directed the media regulator to take action against them.

The ECP had written a letter to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) highlighting that some media houses have violated Clause 12 of the media's election code of conduct by carrying out polls and surveys of various constituencies.