Election commission Pakistan to review Election date

Federal Cabinet has requested the Prime Minister to take a final decision regarding the change of date, if any, for the general elections based on the recommendations of the Election Commission.

The Cabinet made this request following a detailed presentation given by
Minister for Interior on the current law and order situation in the
country, said a press release issued here Monday.Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will decide tomorrow about the fate of the January 8 general elections in the country, following the receipt of reports from other provinces."We have called for reports from the provincial governments and provincial election commissioners on the situation. The reports will reach here by evening today and we will decide tomorrow," commission secretary Kanwar Dilshad told reporters.

People's expectations run high that a date in March would be assigned for polling.

People’s Party (PPP) leaders declared 40-day mourning after the
death of Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and the mourning period would
come to a close on February 10. As the holy month of Moharramul Haram
is commencing from January 11 and the Chehlum of Kerbala Martyrs would
take place on February 22. To this date, the severe chill and frosty
situation in Gulliat will have improved.

Reports of ECP, emanating from the offices of ECP and ballot boxes
and voting scanners present there were torched in nine districts of
Sindh including Sukkar, Jamshoro, Noshehroferoz, Qambar Shahdadkot,
Thatta, Ghotki, Jackobabad, Badin and Dadu. In these areas, the
training work of polling staff is affected as well.

Important meeting of ECP was held to take stock of the situation
over holding of general elections, headed by Chief Election
Commissioner Justice (Rtd) Qazi Mohammed Farooq.

Commission members Justice Nasim Sikandar, Justice Ahmed Khan Lashari and other high officials attended the meeting.

The meeting was told that the work of Election Commission was
affected, as the offices of the commission were set on fire on several
places.

It was also told that a polling agent from Kurram Agency apprised
the ECP in his letter that circumstances are not conducive for holding
of the elections there.

It was expected that Chief Election Commissioner would announce to defer the elections for National and Provincial assemblies.