KARACHI: 1,037 return unopposed in 11 distts of Sindh
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, July 30: A total of 1,037 candidates were returned unopposed in 11 out of 23 districts of Sindh, where polling will be held on Aug 18 in the first phase of local government elections. No nominations were filed for 76 seats in the interior of Sindh. After the last date of withdrawals on July 29 in Karachi City district, 81 candidates returned unopposed. However, not a single member from Muslim general seat or from Nazim/Naib Nazim seat return unopposed.
The highest number of candidates who returned unopposed hailed from Karachi West where four Muslim women, two peasants/workers and two peasants/workers women and 22 minorities’ candidates returned unopposed. In East, 23 candidates of minorities returned unopposed while in Karachi Central 16 candidates of minorities and in South two peasant/worker women and two minorities candidates and in Malir two minorities candidates returned unopposed.
In Karachi city, a total number of 2,119 candidates submitted their withdrawals, leaving 8,516 candidates in the run against a total of 2314 seats in the 178 union councils of the city. Of the 4,338 candidates, 830 withdrawals were submitted from Muslim general seats, leaving 3,508 candidates.
Likewise, for 1,429 Muslim women seats, 258 withdrawals were submitted, leaving 1,171 candidates in the field. In case of peasants/workers, out of 2,184 candidates, 376 withdrew their papers, leaving 1,808 candidates in the run and in the case of peasants/workers women, out of 1,077 candidates 212 withdrew, leaving 865 women in the field and on minorities seats, out of 559 candidates, 133 withdrew from the contest, leaving 426 in the field.
In the category of Nazim/Naib nazim, there were 1,048 candidates in the run but after withdrawals by 738 candidates are in the field.
Meanwhile, the returning officers on Saturday allotted election symbols to candidates.
According to details from 10 other districts of Sindh where elections are scheduled in the first phase, a total of 303 candidates withdrew in Thatta, 95 in Tando Allahyar, 424 in Ghotki, 267 in Naushero Feroze, 162 in Jacobabad, 203 in Kashmore/Kandhkot, 182 in Mirpurkhas, 177 in Omarkot, 396 in Sanghar, and 339 in Tharparker.
