September 19, 2002	Thursday	Rajab 11, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: Unofficial election results will be announced at the polling stations while the presiding officers will be bound to let the results of their respective stations known to the returning officers.

Chaudhry Mohammad Younas, the returning officer for NA-48, informed this reporter after an informal meeting with other judicial officers of the capital who would also be supervising the elections. However, official results would be announced by the Election Commission.

It may be noted here that some political parties in the wake of the decision of the Election Commission, that it will announce the final results after two days of the elections, apprehended that there could be some manipulations on the part of the government.

They were under the impression that the relevant election authorities at the polling stations would not be able to make the announcement of even the unofficial results.

“The unofficial results would be announced on the spot,” the presiding officer observed.

Meanwhile, the two returning officers for NA-48 and NA-49 approved the appointment of over 1,200 election personnel for conducting polls in the capital on October 10.

The two constituencies of Islamabad will have 380 polling stations each of which will be supervised by one presiding officer, two assistant presiding officers and two polling officers.

There will be women staffers who will be assisted by one male attendant for handling the election material, including ballot boxes and related material.

Most of the staff has been taken from the education department though the returning officers who had sought requisition from all government departments were free to choose the personnel of their liking as the elections are being held under the direct supervision of the judiciary.