ISLAMABAD, April 12: Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on Tuesday postponed by-election for a Senate seat from the NWFP to April 19. The polling was to be held on Wednesday (April 13). The by-election was put off because of sudden illness of the returning officer for the by-election, an official of the Election Commission said.

Mir Abdullah Khan, election commissioner of NWFP, who had been appointed returning officer for the by-election, was admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on Tuesday. Mr Khan had been suffering from a heart disease, said Secretary of Election Commission, Kanwar Mohammad Dilshad.