ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has decided to stay its ban on recruitment in government institutions and diversion of funds for development projects.

A session of the commission, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, was held here Friday.

In a statement issued to the media following the session, the ECP announced that it was maintaining its ban on recruitment in government institutions. However, recruitment can be conducted on vacancies advertised prior to Aug 31, 2012.

The commission further said that constitutional institutions will be exempted from the recruitment ban.

The ECP also issued notices to eight government department which had violated the recruitment ban. These include the ministries of Interior, Trade, Railways, Cabinet Division, Postal Services, and the Sui Northern Gas Lahore.

Sources told DawnNews that the respective heads of institutions would be summoned by the ECP in case of failure to respond to the notices within seven days.