Islamabad: Gen. Zia announced here that elections to the National and State Legislatures would be held on February 25 and 28. This would be the 1st general election after Gen. Zia assumed control of the country. However, political parties and all those who had held positions either in Bhutto’s government or his People’s Party have been debarred from contesting the elections. To be eligible candidates must be true Muslims and must vow to uphold Islamic code of conduct. Gen. Zia has already won for himself a five year term as President through a referendum. In the referendum 98% of the polled votes favored Gen. Zia. Opposition leaders had boycotted the referendum and called it a big fraud.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 18, 1985
