The Cabinet Division has instructed all ministries to take immediate action to ensure that government officials and employees refrain from campaigning for or against the "Yes" or "No" options in the upcoming February 12 referendum.
The directive follows a formal notification from the Election Commission (EC), which clarified that such political activity by republic employees is a punishable offense under current laws.
According to the EC's guidelines issued on Thursday, and reinforced by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, government personnel are strictly prohibited from advocating for a specific outcome.
While they are permitted—and encouraged—to inform the public and raise awareness about the referendum process, any attempt to influence voters to cast a "Yes" or "No" ballot violates Section 21 of the Referendum Ordinance 2025 and Article 86 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO) 1972.
Key Directives for OfficialsNeutral Awareness Only: Officials may engage in voter education activities but must remain strictly neutral.Enforcement Hierarchy: Divisional Commissioners, District Magistrates (DCs), and Returning Officers have been tasked with the rigorous implementation of this order.Legal Consequences: Any violation will be treated as a punishable criminal offense to ensure the referendum's impartiality and results are not compromised.
While Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Professor Ali Riaz, previously stated that there was "no legal bar" for officials to promote positive reforms, the Election Commission has now officially drawn a line to prevent potential bias.
The Cabinet Division has since forwarded the EC's ruling to all administrative levels to ensure the February 12 polls, held alongside the 13th National Parliamentary Election, remain free and fair.
