July 6, 2002	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 24,1423

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ISLAMABAD, July 5: The date for the next elections to the National Assembly, provincial assemblies and senate will be announced on July 11.

When inquired about the exact date of the general election on Friday, Chief Election Commissioner, Justice Irshad Hasan Khan, said the answer to the question contained in the Supreme Court judgment in Syed Zafar Ali Shah case.

The CEC said under the judgment, the Chief Executive had been directed by the Supreme Court to “appoint a date, not later than 90 days before the expiry of the aforesaid period of three years, for holding of a general election to the National Assembly, and the provincial assemblies and the senate of Pakistan”.

The CEC said in terms of the Supreme Court judgment, the Chief Executive was bound to announce the election date on July 11, 2002.

He said the validity of the present regime was inter-linked and intertwined with the holding of elections before October 11, 2002.

Asked when the Election Commission would announce the election schedule, the CEC said the Election Commission would do so as soon as the Chief Executive announced the date on which the polls were to be held, as required under the SC judgment.

When asked there was a general perception that elections would be postponed, the CEC said the perception was based on erroneous assumptions.