ISLAMABAD, April 20: Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on Wednesday rescheduled the by-election from May 7 to May 28 to fill the NA-271 National Assembly seat from Kharan-cum-Panjgur (Balochistan). “In exercising powers conferred on him under Section 11A of the Representation of the People Act 1976, read with Section 108(2), the Acting CEC is pleased to postpone the polling scheduled to be held on May 7, 2005 and fix May 28, 2005 as the fresh polling day for by-election in NA-271 Kharan-cum-Panjgur,’ a notification issued by Secretary Election Commission Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Maulana Rehmatullah Baloch of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on March 14, 2005.

The postponement of the by-election was requested by the government of Balochistan as well as the district Nazim, Kharan, in their letters addressed to the commission.

The government of Balochistan had repeatedly requested the election commission for postponement of by-election through their separate letters dated April 5, 6 and 16 on the grounds that the prevailing law and order situation in the province, especially in the area of NA-271, was not conducive for holding the by-election.