ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: In the first step towards introducing democracy in 43 cantonments across the country, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started delimitation process of wards in these cantonments.

The ECP has written a letter to the director general of Military Lands and Cantonment Department, informing him that appellate authorities have been appointed in the 43 cantonments located in 23 districts.

The appellate authorities are comprised of district and sessions judges who will be disposing of objections to and responding to suggestions regarding delimitation of wards.

NA-25 by-poll: The ECP has fixed Sept 18 as the new date for by-election in NA-25 (Dera Ismail Khan-Tank) after receiving a report from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government that security situation in the constituency had been improved.

The provincial chief secretary informed the ECP on Aug 29 that law and order in the constituency was under control for holding the by-election.

On Aug 19, the ECP suspended the by-election in N-25, which was scheduled for Aug 22, because of security concerns in the backdrop of Dera Ismail Khan jail-break.

The NA-25 seat was vacated by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who had won from two other constituencies in the May 11 general election.