ISLAMABAD: The third phase of local government elections in Balochistan commenced yesterday with returning officers inviting nomination papers to fill seats reserved for peasants and workers in local councils of all districts of the province.
The last day of the year has been fixed as polling day by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the schedule it announced yesterday. The returning officers will declare the results on January 2.
In the first phase of the process, elections for ‘direct’ seats in the local councils were held.
In the second phase, elections were held for seats reserved for women and non-Muslims. In the last phase, heads and deputy heads of local governments will be elected.
According to the schedule, nomination papers will be received on December 8 and 9.
Scrutiny of the nomination papers will take place on December 12 and 13 while appeals against acceptance and rejection of nomination papers will be received on December 15 and decided on December 16 and 17.
The schedule for the third phase had been announced earlier as well, but the elections could not take place.
The ECP has clarified that candidates who had submitted candidature fees earlier would only have to present their receipts with their fresh nomination papers.
Internews
