Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday banned entry of media persons to its offices. The ECP issued a circular to all ECP staffers and directed them to refrain from talking to media persons and in case of deviation, strict action would be taken against them. In addition, the commission also banned the dissemination of information through email and mobile phones and restricted media's entry to its premises across the country.
"No journalists will be allowed to enter into any office of the ECP, without prior permission of the authorities," the media was also informed. Later in the evening, a statement was issued to media that impression was being created by some media reports as if the ECP had closed its door on media, which was not correct and contrary to the factual position.
The Commission stated that it had always taken all necessary steps to facilitate access to media subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of working of the ECP as well as to streamline the procedure with regard to provision of information to media. Besides, as media persons were complaining that instead of providing information on an individual basis, this should be done through a focal person, thus a proper focal person had been appointed on their demand.
The statement admitted that all the officers of the ECP had been directed to follow the proper channel of providing information to the designated focal person for dissemination to media persons and not to communicate any updates directly. In addition, for specific questions or for interviews, the media was also being facilitated; however, the security and discipline count not be obviously compromised.