April 18, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 11, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 17: The Election Commission on Thursday revised the schedule for election to 38 vacant seats of the National and provincial assemblies.

By-election on 28 and fresh poll on 10 National and provincial assembly seats earlier scheduled to take place on June 3 will now be held on June 18.

Election Commission secretary Kanwar Mohammad Dilshad told Dawn that no political party had sought a change in the schedule and the commission took the decision on its own in order to facilitate the contesting candidates.

He said the decision to revise the schedule had been taken in view of the ongoing sessions of National and provincial assemblies.“It is difficult for the political parties to pay proper attention to the issue of awarding tickets to candidates and run their campaigns,” he said.

Observers, however, believe that the decision had something to do with the case pertaining to the condition of graduation for contesting elections, which comes up for hearing by a seven-member Supreme Court Bench on Friday.

The secretary, however, said the revision of the schedule had nothing to do with the case relating to the graduation condition.

He said the nomination papers could now be submitted till May 6, instead of April 21. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place from May 7 to May 13 and the last date for filing appeals is May 17.

The last date for deciding the appeals by tribunals has been set for May 24, the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 26 and the final list will be issued on May 26.

He said that necessary notifications had been issued by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi Mohammad Farooq.