Independents may join any party within 3 days of Notification
''Pakistan Times' NWFP Bureau

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan announced Thursday that independent returned candidates in 2008 polls for National and Provincial Assemblies, may join any political party within three days after the announcement of official notification.

Secretary Election Commission, Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad said, candidates returned as independent, for National and Provincial Assemblies seats, can avail the provision of joining any party through a prescribed procedure.

He said the independent returned candidates can apply to the party heads of their choice within specified time period.

The party heads, then would be bound to inform Election Commission through a letter, about the inclusion of such members in their party.

Dilshad said, after inclusion of independent returned candidates in their respective parties, the Commission would decide on distribution of seats reserved for women and minorities in National and Provincial Assemblies, among the political parties, in accordance with the total seats each party would have in respective houses.●