The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday said government officials and employees cannot campaign for either side in the referendum scheduled alongside the 13th national parliamentary election on February 12, warning that violations will be punishable.
Two commissioners cited the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, and the Referendum Ordinance, stressing that neutrality is mandatory for all state functionaries during the referendum process.
The restriction applies not only to officials directly involved in election duties but also to any government officer or employee attempting to influence the referendum outcome, whether by campaigning for “Yes” or “No.”
“Any attempt by a government official to influence voters in the referendum—directly or indirectly—will be treated as a violation of the law and dealt with accordingly,” one commissioner said.
The EC said both the RPO and the Referendum Ordinance prohibit using state authority, official position, or public resources to sway voters’ decisions. Officials also warned that monitoring will include social media activity, public statements, and any use of government platforms or facilities.
Constitutional expert and senior Supreme Court lawyer Shahdeen Malik said advisers of the interim government are also bound by the same rules.
“Based on the spirit and provisions of the law, advisers of the interim government cannot publicly campaign in favor of ‘Yes’ in the referendum,” Malik said. “The core principle here is to keep the state machinery neutral.”
He warned that any deviation from neutrality by state actors could undermine the credibility and legal standing of the referendum process.
The EC said it will maintain strict oversight of government officials’ conduct in the run-up to polling day, particularly as the parliamentary election and referendum are being held simultaneously.
“Referendum outcomes must reflect the will of the people, not the influence of the state,” an EC official said.
The commission has instructed returning officers and field-level election officials to report any violations of the code of conduct involving government employees. Officials said enforcing these legal restrictions will be a critical test of the credibility of the process, particularly as the referendum expands the scope of the February 12 electoral exercise.
The EC has repeatedly stressed that maintaining institutional neutrality is essential to preserving public trust in both the parliamentary election and the referendum.