KARACHI, Sept 17: The candidates vying for various categories of seats in the third phase of local body elections have started their election campaigns after acceptance of their nomination papers. Although full-fledged canvassing by the candidates would be launched after the last date of withdrawals on Sept 21, they are making personal contacts to win over support of a majority of the members.
The polling for the posts of city/ district nazims and to reserved seats would be held on Oct 6.
In the entire scenario, independent candidates appeared more concerned and they have also started approaching smaller groups of councillors to win their support.
Being indirect elections, the electoral college for the City district Nazim and for reserved seats comprises over 2314 of 178 union councils of the Karachi District. They include nazim and naib nazim of every UC as they were elected in the first phase on the basis of adult franchise.
Likewise, the electoral college for nazim’s slot and for reserved seats in any district council will be the members of all union councils in the district. Similarly, in Town/Tehsil the electoral college comprises member of the UCS in their respective town and Tehsil.
As against the independents, the candidates fielded by their respective panels, and backed by one or the other political party, instead of running after independents are concentrating more on mustering support of other groups who have not announced support to any candidate.
However, in Karachi where there are 10 candidates in the field for the nazim’s slot, the main contest will be between Syed Mustafa Kamal, official candidate of Haq Parast panel, backed by Muttahida Qaumi Movement and former Nazim Niamatullah Khan, a nominee of Shehri panel, backed by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.
The other candidates vying for the slot are Fauzia Wahab of Awam Dost panel, backed by Pakistan Peoples Party, Dr Mohammad Hanif Khan, Rizwan Ikram and Syed Zahid Ali are independents while Babar Ghauri, MA Jalil and Waseem Akhtar are covering candidate of Syed Mustafa Kamal. Likeise, Mian Muslim Pervez is a covering candidate for Niamatullah Khan.
Campaign Expenses: A candidate for the nazim’s slot in the district can spend Rs 0.5 million on his election campaign while expenditure limit in Town and Tehsil is Rs 0.3 million.
The code of conduct of the Election Commission of Pakistan has stipulated the limit of expenditures which a candidate can incur on running his election campaign.
