Section 196: Offences punishable under Pakistan Penal Code

196. Offences punishable under Pakistan Penal Code.—(1) If any person— (a) attacks the polling station or polling booth; (b) causes or attempts to cause any injury to a person or loss of public property at the polling station; (c) exhibits or uses weapons or makes aerial firing in or around the polling station; (d) disturbs the polling proceedings or causes to harass the voters to leave the polling station without voting; (e) snatches or attempts to snatch the ballot boxes or ballot papers; (f) kidnaps or attempts to kidnap the Presiding Officer or polling staff; or (g) does any other act at the polling station; punishable under the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860), the Presiding Officer shall report in writing the occurrence to the Returning Officer who shall refer the matter to the Head of District Police for registration of a case against the alleged offender. (2) The Head of District Police shall send a copy of the First Information Report to the Court of competent jurisdiction and shall submit to the Provincial Election Commissioner periodical report about the progress in investigation of the case.

Effective date: 2017-10-02

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