ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has extended the deadline for approval of the amendments by the President in nomination papers proposed by it, Dispatch News Desk (DND) reported on Monday.
The President Asif Ali Zardari is not in the country and the ECP hopes he would approve proposed amendments in the nomination papers upon his return, the Election Commission Additional Secretary Afzal Khan said.
Taking to the media, he requested that serious and senior people should cover the Election Commission with the national interest in mind.
“The Election Commission will strengthen democracy through its measures,” Khan said. He stressed that neither the ECP nor its process would succumb to any pressure.
The president Zardari has left for Iran where he is taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project and is expected to return in one day.
“The heavens will not fall even if we receive the approval for amendments in the nomination papers by tomorrow,” Khan added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Law and Justice has forwarded the new draft of the nomination forms containing proposed amendments by Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as well as the objections of the Law Ministry to the president for final decision.
There has been a deadlock between the government and the electoral body over the changes in the nomination papers proposed by the ECP.
DND
