KARACHI, July 15: Electoral process for the first phase of the local body elections in 54 districts of four provinces will commence on Saturday with the issuance of nomination papers to the intending candidates.

Filing of nomination papers will commence on July 18 and end on 20. Polling for the first phase will be held on 18th August. 

In the first phase, the elections will be held in Gujranwala and Multan city districts, Sialkot, Sargodha, Khushab, Lodhran, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Vehari, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahimyar Khan (Punjab); Karachi city district, Thatta, Tando Allah Yar, Ghotki, Naushahro Feroz, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Sanghar and Tharparkar (Sindh); Peshawar city district, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Haripur and Buner (NWFP) and Khuzdar, Mastung, Kharan, Awaran, Pishin, Noshki, Sibi, Ziarat, Bolan, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Qila Saifullah, Barkhan and Gwadar (Balochistan).

July 21 has been fixed for the publication of notice of nomination by the Election Commission and the voters could then file objections on July 22. The Election Commission will scrutinize the nomination papers on July 23 and 24.

The Election Commission has set fixed July 25 for the filing of appeals whose disposal will take place on July 27. July 28 has been set for withdrawal of the candidatures.

The list of contesting candidates will be published on July 29 and August 18 had been declared the polling day. Results will be declared on August 20.

In the second phase, elections in 56 remaining districts of four provinces will be held, beginning with the issuance of notices inviting nomination papers on July 23. Nomination papers will be filed from July 25 to 27.