ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), taking serious notice of the amendment in Punjab Local Government Ordinance, on Tuesday, directed that the Nazimeen and Naib Nazimeen cannot contest elections without tendering their resignations.

The Chief Election Commissioner, Chief Justice (retd) Irshad Hasan Khan, today, directed that the Nazimeen and Naib Nazimeen have to resign from their posts before filing nomination papers if they are interested in contesting the forthcoming general elections.

The chief election commissioner issued these directives after taking serious notice of reported amendment made in the Punjab Local Government Ordinance, 2001 in which the Punjab governor has allowed the Nazimeen and Naib Nazimeen to contest elections without tendering resignations from their respective offices.

The CEC has directed the Punjab governor to immediately withdraw the reported legislation to ensure fair and transparent elections.—APP