ISLAMABAD: The Chief Election Commissio­ner has postponed the schedule of by-elections by 21 days to “ensure fullest participation of all political parties and candidates. Polls will now he held from Dec 12 to Dec 23.”

A Press Note of the Election Commission issued here today [Sept 21] said: “The Chief Election Commissioner has reconsidered the election programme for the vacant seats in the National Assembly and the Provincial Assembly from East Pakistan announced on 20th September, 1971. In order to secure the fullest participation of all political parties and candidates in these by-elections, and having regard to their convenience, he has decided to modify the programme announced on 20th September, 1971.” ... — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Lahore,] Mr Nurul Amin, President of Pakistan Democratic Party ... opposed the idea of transferring power “by instalments”.... Power should be totally transferred to the National Assembly when it was fully constituted, he said.... The PDP leader said, he did not agree with those ... who say that henceforth either dictatorship or Army can keep the two wings together. ... Mr Nurul Amin reaffirmed that only an order based on democracy could keep the two wings of Pakistan intact.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2021