Pakistan General elections likely to be postponed to March

Islamabad, Dec 30 (UNI) Pakistan's General Elections scheduled to take place on Januray 8 is likely to be postponed to second week of March and final decision in this regard will be taken tomorrow.

It is likely that the polling would be held in the second week of March, as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (Retd) Qazi Muhammad Faruque is expected to announce the postponement of the elections for national and provincial assemblies, following the scheduled meeting tomorrow. Nomination papers would not be called for again in connection with the elections and the polling date only would be rescheduled, Geo TV reported.

Various factors are being taken into account regarding postponement of election process for around six weeks.

The forty day mourning announced by PPP to mourn the assasination of their chairperson Benazir Bhutto ends on February 10.

On the other hand, 'Muharram' is beginning from January 11 and the 'Chehlum' of 'Karbala martyrs' would fall on February 22. Besides by this time, the snowfall and cold wave in the Galyat would also grow weaker, while the polling was likely to held in the 2nd week of March.

The Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) is also perturbed by the prevailing law and order situation in Sindh. The Election Commision offices and poll related materials were burnt in the volatile Sindh province where Bhutto's home town Larkana is located.

Nine Sindh districts Sukkur, Jamshoro, Nausheroferoze, Qambar Shahdadkot, Thatta, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Badin and Dadu had to bear the brunt of violence where as boxes and scanning machines have been burnt.

Besides, the process of training of the polling staff at these places has also been badly affected.

UNI