ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: The Election Commission on Tuesday said that all the independent candidates of National and Provincial Assemblies intending to join any political party should do so by the afternoon of Oct 24.

The EC announcement came after the amendments were introduced by the President in the Election Order 2002, allowing the independent to join a political party if they wanted to have say in the election of 70 seats reserved for women (60) and minorities (10).

According to existing laws, under which the election of the women and minorities will be held on proportional representation basis, the independents would have no say in the election of reserved seats.

All the independent candidates of the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies intending to join any political party may do so by Oct 24, 2002, by 3.00pm positively by applying to a political party for joining that political party. The party whom the candidate has joined shall inform the Election Commission secretariat, with the statement of the candidate that he has joined the party by 5.00pm.

In the recently concluded general elections, 28 independents have returned to National Assembly. Majority of them are expected to go with the government-backed party, PML(QA). However one independent, elected from Chakwal, Faiz Taman, has already joined PPP after being elected as an independent candidate.