Parliamentary elections in Pakistan on Jan 8: EC

Islamabad, Nov 20 (UNI) Parliamentary election will be held in Pakistan on January 8, 2008, the Election Commission announced here today.

''The polling will be held on January 8,'' the commission officials said in the capital city.

According to the schedule, nomination papers are to be filed from tomorrow onwards till November 26 while the final list will be displayed on December 15.

Later, Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq also confirmed January 8 as the election date in an address on the state-run Pakistan Television.

''The President has fixed January 8 as the date for election,'' he added.

It is the election commission's constitutional obligation to hold free and fair election, he said, adding that the election to national and provincial assemblies will be held on the same day.

He said transparent boxes have been imported for casting votes while the election staff is being trained according to international standards, as the entire international attention is focused on Pakistan.

The international observers will be welcomed and provided all facilities. They will be allowed to visit all polling stations, he further said.

The election date has been announced more than two weeks after President Pervez Musharraf imposed the state of emergency in the country on November 3.

UNI