PESHAWAR, Nov 30: Three provincial election commissioners and the joint secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan will retire by the end of the year, sources said. Election Commission of Pakistan Secretary Kunwar Mohammad Dilshad said that election commissioners of Sindh, Punjab and the NWFP would complete their term by Dec 31.

“The competent authority will take a decision regarding the retirement of the three election commissioners within a week or so,” Mr Dilshad told Dawn by phone on Wednesday.

The sources said that Sindh Election Commissioner Ahmad Ali Halepota, who was to retire in 2002, had been given four extensions.

They said that Punjab Election Commissioner Rahim Nawaz Durrani, who had availed two extensions in 2003, was due to relinquish his office by the end of the year.

NWFP Election Commissioner Abdullah Khan, who completed his tenure in July 2005, would reach the age of superannuation this year.

The joint secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Qazi Mohammad Saleem, would complete his tenure in December.