ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: The Election Commission on Monday approved the code of conduct for elections expected to be held on Jan 8, after making some amendments in its draft.

Major opposition parties boycotted the EC meeting which was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi Muhammad Farooq. The Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf and some components of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal had announced that they would boycott the meeting because the commission was not independent and that fair, free and credible elections were not possible under the state of emergency.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Imtaiz Ranjha of PML(Q), Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli of PPP(S), Muhammad Ramzan Alvi of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Sami), Kashif Nizamani of PML(F) and Chaudhry Muhammad Akram, legal adviser of Pakistan Awami Party attended the meeting.

The EC secretary said although some of the political parties stayed away from the meeting, the recommendations received from them had been duly considered and accepted, wherever necessary, for incorporation in the draft code of conduct for the contesting candidates and political parties.

Sources said a set of proposals on the code of conduct had been presented on behalf of Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Deputy Convenor Dr Farooq Sattar.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Sattar said that the MQM delegation could not attend the EC meeting because of some party activities in Karachi.

Meanwhile, the EC has invited the political parties to submit applications for allotment of election symbols by Nov 28.