January 04, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 24, 1428

SWABI, Jan 3: The announcement of the Chief Election Commissioner to postpone general elections until Feb 18 has slowed down electioneering here, with most of the camps set up by political parties presenting a deserted look on Thursday.

Candidates belonging to different political parties and some independent candidates had put their election campaigns on hold even before the commissioner’s formal announcement because postponement seemed on the cards.

PPP candidates say they will review the activities to be organised because running an election campaign for a long period is not an easy task.

Leaders of the other political parties told Dawn that they would resume their election campaign shortly. Some of them said they would rest for a week before resuming their campaigns.

Asad Zaman, an independent candidate for NA-13 (Swabi-11) said the delay had provided him with an opportunity to reach voters in far-flung mountainous region of Gadoon. “However, I was not in favour of the delay,” he said.

Dildar Khan, a PML-N candidate for PF-31 (Swabi-1) said the PML-Q was looking for an excuse but that could not work and it would now face what he called an ignominious defeat on Feb 18.

Pakistan Muslim League-Q leaders said the delay was unavoidable because of the troubles caused by Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

The rioting was very severe in several parts of Sindh and enraged mobs ransacked and burnt several Election Commission offices.

They said that in such a scenario it was natural to postpone the election for a few weeks.