Pak govt cancels EC delegation's visit to India

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Jan 23 (PTI) The Pakistan government has
cancelled an official visit by an Election Commission
delegation to India, days after parliamentarians said they
would not participate in the trip to protest the perceived
snub to Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League
(IPL) auction.
A delegation comprising Chief Election Commissioner
Hamid Ali Mirza, Election Commission Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed
Khan and another official was scheduled to visit India from
January 25 to participate in the Indian poll panel's diamond
jubilee celebrations.
The government formally informed the Election
Commission late Friday night that the visit has been
cancelled, official sources told PTI.
The sources said the delegation had gone to Lahore
Friday with plans to travel to India before the last minute
official communication cancelling the visit.
No reason was assigned by the government for the
cancellation but sources said it appeared to be linked to the
perceived snub to Pakistani cricketers during the recent
auction for the lucrative IPL tournament.
Twenty20 champions Pakistan were stunned after none of
the country's 11 players were signed up during the IPL auction
that took place in India's commercial hub Mumbai on Tuesday.
National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza had announced
on Wednesday that no parliamentary delegation would be sent to
India to protest the treatment meted out to the Pakistani
cricketers. (MORE) PTI