The Chief Election Commissioner has expressed deep grief and shock on the sad and tragic death of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
Islamabad, the 29th December, 2007.- The Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr. Justice ® Qazi Muhammad Farooq has expressed deep grief and shock on the sad and tragic death of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on his own behalf and on behalf of the Election Commission of Pakistan. He prayed that may Allah Almighty rest her soul in eternal peace in the hereafter and grant courage to the bereaved family of the departed soul to bear this irreparable loss. He said that the nation has lost an outstanding leader of international stature.
2. It is a matter of common knowledge that in the aftermath of the unfortunate assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on the 27th December, 2007, the law and order situation in the country suffered deterioration. Resultantly, the offices of the Assistant Election Commissioners located in Sukkur, Jamshoro, Naushero Feroze, Kamber Shahdadkot, Thatta, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Badin and Dadu districts of the Province of Sindh were set on fire and the buildings along with the record, electoral rolls, Transparent Ballot Boxes and Voting Screens were reduced to ashes. Additionally, all activities pertaining to pre-poll arrangements including printing of Ballot Papers and logistics as well as Training of Polling Personnel have been adversely affected. Besides, as per reports from the Political Agent/DRO, Kurram, the law and order situation in Kurram Agency is not conducive for the conduct of Poll, for which requests have been received for the postponement of Poll in two constituencies of Kurram Agency till restoration of normalcy in the area. Similar position may emerge in Swat district, where a contesting candidate for the Provincial Assembly has died in a bomb blast.
3. The Hon’ble Chief Election Commissioner has, therefore, called an emergent Meeting of the Election Commission of Pakistan on the 31st December, 2007 in the Election Commission Secretariat, Islamabad.