ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: The Election Commission on Thursday amended the Counting of Votes (General Elections) (Amendment) Order, 2002.

The amended Counting of Votes (General Elections) Amendment Order, says that the consolidation of results of all constituencies of National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies shall commence, as far as practicable, on the day following the poll and as soon as polling bags of all polling stations are received by a Returning Officer and completed not later than the Oct 12, 2002.”

It further says that the Returning Officer, immediately after consolidating results in the prescribed manner under Section 39 of the Act, shall cause affixation of a copy of the consolidated results outside his office for information of the general public and duly signed copies thereof shall be provided to the candidates or their election agents as may be present at the spot.”

The CEC, in a separate announcement, said that for the political parties which are required to file the lists of their candidates in order of priority for the seats reserved for non-Muslims and women in the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies, the offices of the Returning Officers shall remain open till 9.00 pm on Sept 14, 2002, which is also the last date for withdrawal of candidatures.