A BNP Committee led by BNP Vice President MK Anwar requested the
Election Commission to extend the deadline for holding council for six
months until January 25.
BNP told the EC that they would submit their constitution within this
time frame. After their meeting with the EC, they submitted a written
application requesting an extension of time.
As per the Representation of the People Ordinance, that has been made an
act by the current parliament, political parties must hold council and
submit their constitution before the Election Commission by July 25.
In addition, eight other political parties also sought more time to
ratify the provisional changes in their constitutions.
Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said the EC would ask the
government to amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO) to
provide the parties with additional time.
Thirty-eight out of 39 registered political parties brought provisional
changes in their constitutions to meet the registration criteria before
the December 29 parliamentary election, promising that they would ratify
the changes within six months since first sitting of the ninth parliament.
CEC Huda said the EC would review the applications of the parties and
take a positive decision.
The CEC said the EC also does not want any party to ratify its
constitution half-heartedly.