ISLAMABAD, March 30: Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar said on Wednesday that local government elections would be held in the first week of July. The polls would be held in two phases, unlike the last local bodies elections which were held in five phases.

The CEC said this during a meeting with US Ambassador Ryan C Crocker who had called on him at the Election Commission. Justice Dogar briefed the ambassador on arrangements for the polls. Later, Kanwar Mohammad Dilshad, secretary of the commission, told newsmen that elections would be completed by August 2005.

“The process of local government elections will be completed by August to enable new members to start working by August 14, 2005,” he said.

He said revised electoral rolls had already been published. District returning officers, returning officers and assistant returning officers were being appointed, and provincial election commissioners had been directed to gear up their machinery for holding the elections in free, fair and transparent manner, he said.