ISLAMABAD, March 14: The Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Irshad Hasan Khan on Sunday announced that the old national identity cards which have been cancelled by the government, would be valid for the purpose of voting in the coming by-elections.

The CEC has directed presiding officers to check if a voter was not in possession of the new computerised National Identity Card (CNIC), he should be asked to show the old National Identity Card (NIC) instead which was valid till January 31, 2004. If he was in possession of the old NIC, the presiding officer should issue him the ballot paper.

The CEC in his order on Sunday said he had received representations from various quarters that a number of eligible voters did not possess the CNICs and were likely to be disenfranchised on that account.