29 May 2004	Saturday	09 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, May 28: Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Irshad Hasan Khan on Friday rejected Punjab government's request to indefinitely postpone June 20 by-election because of the potential threat to the law and order situation in NA-89 Jhang.

The seat had been lying vacant since the assassination of Maulana Azam Tariq. "The polls shall be held in NA-89 Jhang-IV on June 20, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm without break," the chief election commissioner (CEC) held in an eight-page order released here Friday, adding that the constituency could not be permitted to remain un-represented for an indefinite period on the fear of a "very tense situation" prevailing in the constituency. "The electoral process is the soul of democracy and, therefore, must not be interrupted."

The order urged the Punjab government to mobilize relevant security agencies like police, rangers and the army to make foolproof security arrangements in the Jhang district to avoid any untoward incident before and after the election period, particularly on the polling day.

The Lahore High Court in its May 11, 2004 order had directed CEC to announce a fresh schedule for holding by-election in the constituency. Earlier, the May 12 by-election could not be held because of a tense atmosphere during Moharram.

Maintenance of law and order is the responsibility of the provincial government, the CEC said, adding that the executive authorities in the federation and in the provinces were under a constitutional mandate to assist the CEC in the performance of his functions.

"It is within the exclusive domain of the executive authorities to evolve strategies for the maintenance of law and order, creating peaceful and conducive atmosphere in the constituency for holding by-election," the order said.

The CEC also recalled that by-elections to the vacant seats in the district councils and tehsil/ town councils in the Jhang district were conduced in a peaceful manner on May 22, 2004.

On May 27, Hassan Wasim Afzal, Punjab home secretary, had appeared for a personal hearing before the CEC to submit an application along with police reports and other material in support of his request for the postponement of by-election in the constituency till August 2004.

The home secretary highlighted the turbulent history of the Jhang district, reminding the CEC of incidents of sectarian violence, including the killing of MNA Maulana Israrul Haq Qasmi, Mian Muhammad Iqbal, a candidate to provincial assembly election, Maulana Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, founder of defunct Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Maulana Ziaur Rehman Farooqi, patron-in-chief of the defunct SSP and Maulana Izharul Haq, son of Maulana Haq Nawaz Jhangvi.