This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7102996.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan confirms early poll date | Pakistan confirms early poll date |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan will hold general elections on 8 January, 2008, the country's Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq has confirmed. | Pakistan will hold general elections on 8 January, 2008, the country's Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq has confirmed. |
| Elections to both the national and provincial assemblies will be held on that day, he said on state TV. | Elections to both the national and provincial assemblies will be held on that day, he said on state TV. |
| President Pervez Musharraf has already suggested that elections would be held on that day. | President Pervez Musharraf has already suggested that elections would be held on that day. |
| A fortnight ago, Gen Musharraf imposed a state of emergency following growing opposition and unrest. | A fortnight ago, Gen Musharraf imposed a state of emergency following growing opposition and unrest. |
| He has been under immense international pressure to lift the emergency and hold elections. | He has been under immense international pressure to lift the emergency and hold elections. |
| The US has reiterated the need for President Pervez Musharraf to lift the state of emergency in the country. | |
| White House spokesperson Dana Perino said President George W Bush has been also "urging" the release of people who have been detained in Pakistan. | |
| 'Transparent' elections | |
| Mr Farooq said the election commission had completed all arrangements to conduct elections in a "free, transparent and impartial manner." | |
| He said international observers would be allowed to visit polling stations and provided all facilities. | |
| The commissioner called for calm during the process saying "those taking part in the election should tolerate each other". | |
| Opposition parties say free and fair elections cannot be held under emergency | |
| According to the schedule announced, nominations would be accepted between 21 November to 26 November. | |
| The scrutiny of nomination papers would be held between 27 November to 3 December. | |
| The final list of candidates would be published on 16 December. | |
| The election commission has asked political parties to apply for election symbols. | |
| Gen Musharraf, who has been under pressure from the US and opponents at home to drop the state of emergency before the elections are held, is on a visit to Saudi Arabia. | |
| Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Dana Perino told reporters that the US "remained concerned that there has not been a lifting of the emergency order that he (Gen Musharraf) put in place a little over two weeks ago". | |
| "There's going to be elections. We do not believe that elections can be free and fair if you're under a situation where the media is not allowed to report on the issues of the day and people aren't allowed to campaign," she said. |