ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will consult on Thursday political parties on the draft code of conduct for parties and their candi-dates running in the upcoming general elections.

An ECP official told Dawn that that the commission would finalise the code after meeting with representatives of political parties. The draf t code of conduct a copy of which is available withDawn proposes for the first-time a bar on political parties to collect money from electoral candidates.

`No political party shall receive any amount from any of its prospective candidate in the name of party fund for issuance of party ticket to that candidate,` readsthe draf t code.

According to the proposed rules of the game, the district returning ofhcer and returning officer will both be responsible for implementing the code of conduct through the district and local administrations, districtpolice or other law-enforcement agencies, in their jurisdictions.

Any violation by any candidate or political party shall be tantamount to malpractice, resulting in legal action, which may include disqualincation of the candidate.