Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 — Section 171A: “Candidates” “Electoral right” defined

171A. “Candidates” “Electoral right” defined. For the purposes of this Chapter

(a)“candidate” means a person who has been nominated as a candidate at any election and includes a person who, when an election is in contemplation, holds himself out as a prospective candidate thereat ; provided that he is subsequently nominated as a candidate at such election ;

(b)“electoral right” means the right of a person to stand, or not to stand as, or to withdraw from being, a candidate or to vote or refrain from voting at an election.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), whoever

(a)threatens any candidate or voter, or any person in whom a candidate or voter is interested, with injury of any kind, or

(b)induces or attempts to induce a candidate or voter to believe that he or any person in whom he is interested will become or will be rendered an object of Divine displeasure or of spiritual censure, shall be deemed to interfere with the free exercise of the electoral right of such candidate or voter, within the meaning of sub-section (1).

(3)A declaration of public policy or a promise of public action, or the mere exercise of a legal right without intent to interfere with an electoral right, shall not be deemed to be interference within the meaning of this section.