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Poll announcement brings little cheer

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD JULY 11. Twenty-four hours after the announcement by the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, that general elections would be held on October 10, there is hardly any sign of activity among the political parties in the country.

The announcement has triggered a volley of demands from the political class ranging from the need for constitution of a new Election Commission to setting up of an `impartial' interim set up to ensure `free and fair elections'.

The announcement coming against the backdrop of flurry of legislative and administrative moves by the Musharraf regime in recent weeks, defining the new ground rules for eligibility to stand in the elections and new regulations to political parties, has brought little cheer.

Prescription of graduation as the minimum qualification to contest in the elections, removal of the two former Prime Ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, from the political scene through an order and the numerous amendments proposed to the suspended 1973 Constitution has muddied the pre-election scene.

The Pakistan People's Party led by Ms. Bhutto stated that the announcement of the election date is hardly important.

``What is important is that elections are held in a free, fair and impartial manner under a neutral caretaker administration set up in consultation with all major political parties and an autonomous, independent Election Commission and reformed election laws, " party sources said.

A convention organised by the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, a conglomerate of 15-odd parties including the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), at Sukkur on Wednesday echoed the same sentiments.

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