May 07, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1, 1429

LAHORE, May 6: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan chairperson Asma Jehangir said on Tuesday her organisation was amazed at the dubious manner in which bypolls had been postponed on the pretext of the deteriorating law and order situation.

“The explanation given by the Election Commission of Pakistan secretary for the postponement of byelections in all four provinces is misleading and full of mischief,” a statement issued here quoted her as saying. She added that law did not require byelections to be held simultaneously in all provinces or constituencies.

The ECP secretary argued that since the byelections were a continuation of the general election, they should be held the same day all over the province. “If this logic is accepted, the byelections can be postponed indefinitely. And it would then also extend to the qualification of candidates. As such the requirement of a graduate degree would be equally applicable to byelection to any seat for which the general election 2008 was held,” the statement said. — Reporter