Pakistan Views

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Wednesday announced to postpone the elections 2008 for a period of 40 days. Now these elections will be held on February 18, 2008 instead of January 8.

Addressing a press conference here, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq said that next general elections would be held on February 18, 2008 in view of the prevalent state of affairs across Pakistan following the assassination of the opposition political leader Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007.

He expressed deep grief over the sad demise of PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto which deprived Pakistan of a leader of international stature.

‘Her demise affected every walk of life; similarly, January 8 elections were also affected,’ he said.

CEC said that the ECP offices in Sindh were the worst hit in Sindh, where at least 11 district offices were completely destroyed. These districts include Ghotki Jackobabad, Kashmore, Qambar Shahdadkot, Jamshoro, Sukkar Thatta, Dadu and Noshehroferoz.

Printing of ballot papers was suspended for at least four days, he said adding that voters lists, Details of polling staff and other electoral apparatus were torched to ashes.

‘The reports sought from the four provinces regarding holding of the elections suggested postponement of elections until after the holy month of Moharramul Haram,” he maintained.

Informal consultations were also held with the political parties before reaching this decision to postpone the elections, he said.