KARACHI: For Karachi’s 1,520 seats of chairman, vice chairman and councillors, a total of 5,483 candidates are contesting in the third and last phase of the local government election scheduled to be held on Dec 5.

There are 209 union committees for the urban areas in the six districts of Karachi — West, Central, East, South, Malir and Korangi — and 38 union councils for the rural areas of the metropolis that only fall within the jurisdiction of West and Malir districts.

According to the data compiled by the Election Commission of Pakistan, in all the 247 union committees and councils, a total of 48 candidates have returned unopposed.

Eighteen candidates have been elected unopposed in Karachi’s Central district; followed by 13 in West; nine in South; six in Malir and two in East.

Korangi is the only district from where no candidate has been elected unopposed.

According to the ECP data, 617 candidates are contesting elections on 31 union committees of South district; 788 contesting on 51 committees of Central district; 817 on 31 union committees in East district; 1,412 candidates are contesting elections on 46 union committees and six union councils in West district; 1,114 are in the run in 13 union committees and 32 union councils of Malir district and 735 candidates are contesting election on 37 union committees in Korangi district.

Polling scheme

According to the polling scheme, there are 1,186,901 voters, including 528,285 females in East district, where 672 combined polling stations would be set up.

A total of 1,530,579 voters, including 600,210 females, are in West district, where 947 polling stations would be set up.

In Karachi’s Central district, the number of voters is 1,735,219, including 770,634 female voters. A total of 1,057 polling stations would be set up, including 119 for females, in the district.

The number of voters in Karachi’s South district is 805,683, including 347,755 female voters. A total of 1,409 polling stations would be set up, including 699 for females, in the district.

In Malir, the number of voters is 641,148, including 262,444 female voters. A total of 506 polling stations would be set up there.

In Korangi, the number of total voters is 1,183,536. The district would have 580 polling stations.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2015