EC hopes for

Elections Commission (EC) has decided to hold discussions on Sunday with political parties and the government to agree on a date to hold the presidential election.

In a statement released on Saturday night, the commission stated that they needed a certain "political assurances” from political parties to go ahead with the polls.

EC stated that the commission members are of the consensus that the election must be held at the earliest possible date and that they hope to announce an election date on Sunday, after discussion with the government and political parties.

EC president Fuad Thaufeeq said on public television on Saturday night that the government’s proposal to hold the election on Saturday coming next, 26 October, is not practically possible. He said that the earliest possible date to hold the election is on 9 October.

However, vice president of the commission Ahmed Fayaz Hassan has said it is possible to agree 2 October as the next possible election date.