The Hindu : Deadline for Pakistan independents

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 23, 2002

International

International

Deadline for Pakistan independents

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD OCT. 22. Independent candidates who have won the just-concluded general elections to the National and Provincial Assemblies in Pakistan have been given time till 3 p.m. on Thursday to become `dependents'. In a statement here, the Election Commission sought to remind all victorious independents `intending' to join any party that they may do so by October 24, by 3.00 p.m. positively. The Election Commission said such independents should apply to a party for joining it. In turn the party shall inform the Election Commission Secretariat, Islamabad, with the statement of the candidate that he has joined it, by 5.00 p.m. on October 24. This follows the controversial decision of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, to amend the political parties' order allowing independents to join a party of their choice.

The order was first issued after midnight of October 9, just a few hours before polling started. There was great deal of confusion about the order as it had used the expression `independents may join' the party of their choice. It was not clear whether independents, who chose not to join a party, could remain so.

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