Elections on Jan 8 impossible: poll panel official
|
| Posted
:
Wed, 02 Jan 2008 06:08:04 GMT |
| By
:
Muhammad Najeeb |
| Category
:
Asia (World) |
| News Alerts by
Email ( click
here ) |
|
|
|
|
|
Islamabad, Jan 2 - Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) secretary Kanwar M. Dilshad said Wednesday that the widespread violence following the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had made it 'impossible' for elections to be held as per schedule on Jan 8.'It seems impossible to hold polls as scheduled,' Dilshad told reporters before entering a crucial meeting to decide on a new date for the polls.Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) have demanded that elections be held Jan 8 but parties supportive of President Pervez Musharraf have been calling for postponement.Musharraf will address the nation at 8 p.m. Wednesday and is expected to speak about the elections and an inquiry into Bhutto's murder.ECP officials said more than 40 election offices in 13 districts were destroyed during the violence that erupted following Bhutto's killing on Dec 27 and it is not possible to make poll arrangements by Jan 8.The agitating protestors also burnt election material and destroyed records in many parts of the country, particularly in Bhutto's home province of Sindh.The ECP was to Tuesday decide on the final date for the elections but deferred it to Wednesday saying it would confer with political parties before taking the final decision.'We'll take the decision keeping in view the suggestions by political parties and reports we have received from our district and provincial offices,' Dilshad said. (c) Indo-Asian News Service
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related News
Suicide bomber kills three in north-west Pakistan
Islamabad - A suicide bomber blew himself up Monday at a police post in Pakistan's north-western city of Peshawar, killing at least three people, officials said. A policeman, who had stopped a motorized rickshaw in which the attacker was travelling, ...
Two blasts rock Philippine capital
Manila - Two explosions rocked Manila Monday, but no one was hurt in the attacks, which occurred near businesses, police said. The first blast was outside the main office of the food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp in the Ortigas business district...
Kidnapped principal beheaded in southern Philippines
Zamboanga City, Philippines - A kidnapped state school principal was beheaded by his abductors on a southern Philippine island, a regional military spokesman said Monday. The head of Gabriel Canizares, 36, was recovered at dawn Monday at a petrol sta...
Strong quake off Indonesia injures 38, damages buildings - Summary
Jakarta - At least 38 people were injured and dozens of homes damaged when a powerful earthquake struck Monday off Indonesia's Sumbawa island, officials said. There were unconfirmed reports that two people were killed in Bima district of West Nusa Te...
Hong Kong mother arrested over baby found dead on clothes rack
Hong Kong - A 28-year-old woman was being questioned by police Monday after the body of a newborn was found suspended on a clothes-drying rack outside a block of flats in Hong Kong. A horrified resident called police Sunday evening after discovering ...
Teen killed, 35 injured as Hong Kong bus overturns
Hong Kong - A 17-year-old girl was killed and 35 other passengers injured when a double-decker bus overturned in Hong Kong Monday, police said. The bus, which some witnesses said was speeding, toppled onto its side on a roundabout as it travelled fro...
Strong quake off Indonesia injures 38, damages buildings - Update
Jakarta - At least 38 people were injured and several buildings damaged when when a powerful earthquake struck Monday off Indonesia's Sumbawa island, an official said. There were unconfirmed reports that two people were killed in Bima district of Wes...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
